A leaked audio file that is allegedly a conversation between First Vice President Amrullah Saleh and an Afghan police officer appears to be a recording of Saleh ordering the officer to kill and behead those who defy the police on the Kabul-Parwan highway.

Apparently the conversation was made while Saleh was serving as the Minister of Interior.

Saleh’s office, however, said the audio tape has been forged.

In the conversation, Saleh says: “If someone does not stop on the highway, bring his head to my office. I will take responsibility for it. Listen to me, if you killed someone, then don’t say that you killed--throw his body away. If you think that you can't do that, then bring his head to the Ministry of Interior, I will deal with it.”

What do legal experts say?

“The Constitution of Afghanistan recognizes the right to life as a fundamental right, no individual or official is allowed to snatch this right,” said Wahid Farzayee, a legal expert in Kabul.

“Bypassing the legal system to ensure security and to strengthen authority takes us in the wrong direction,” said Arash Shahrivar, a university professor in Kabul.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called on the Afghan government to ensure the protection of the rights of the people.

“No one should use his position to encourage violence and human rights' violations. If such a violent case happens, the government is obliged to independently investigate the case,” said Zaman Sultani, a researcher of Amnesty International in Afghanistan.

Saleh has consistently made statements that the security forces should act with strong commitment against kidnappers, criminals, strongmen and lawbreakers.

“Our official position is that this audio tape has been forged and the context of the conversation is unknown. But the conversation goes back to the days when the first vice president was serving as acting minister of the interior. However, the first vice president has always said that the security forces should act firmly against the kidnappers, criminals and those challenging the law, this is what the Afghan people want,” said Rizwan Murad, Saleh’s chief of staff.