Former president Hamid Karzai held a press conference on Monday and urged the Afghan government and Afghan forces to defend the freedom of speech and the people’s rights in the country.

“The threats have increased against those who support the US peace talks with the Taliban,” Karzai said, adding that “Wahid Muzhda (political analyst) is the latest victim. We did not agree on everything, but we accepted his views and respected them.”

Acting Minister of Finance Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi was summoned by a committee of the Wolesi Jirga, the Lower House of Parliament, to report to lawmakers on accusations of his embezzlement of billions of Afghanis from the last fiscal year’s government budget.

He was criticized by some legislators for not responding to their questions.