Reports about Ghani’s family bank accounts audit found false

KABUL (Pajhwok): Pajhwok Afghan News findings show reports about the audit of bank accounts of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s sons and relatives by the US federal administration are false.

Inaccurate information:

Daily Wesa, an Afghan newspaper, on October 7 published a report titled, ‘US audits bank accounts of Ghani’s family members.’

The report says, “The bank accounts of Ajmal Ghani, Sultan Ghani and Emal Ghani, sons of Ashraf Ghani, unexpectedly deposited with $500 million during the last three months.”

“The US Federal Administration’s Anti-Money Laundering and Economic Crimes Office audited the bank accounts of family members of the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The bank accounts of Ajmal Ghani, Sultan Ghani and Emal Ghani unexpectedly deposited with $500 million during the last three months and that was the reason the US Federal Administration’s Anti-Money Laundering and Economic Crimes Office audited these accounts,” the report continues.

Wesa Daily only mentioned ‘reports’ as sources for this information but did not name the sources exactly.

Afghan Paper, another news outlet also published a similar report quoting Wesa Daily.

Shafaqna, another Afghan news outlet, also published the report with similar headline but did not mention the source.

This report wasnalso circulated on social media networks.

For example, Hazara, a Facebook page, posted the report on its wall which was liked by hundreds of people, commented by 480 users and 206 other people shared the post.

Some people in comments on the post believed the post was true and insulted Ashraf Ghani.

Sayed Nabi, in his comments said, “This report is not a lie, it is true, Ghani destroyed this nation, he is responsible for the bloodshed of this nation.”

Some Facebook users called the report as inaccurate.

A number of Facebook users in comments to the post published by Hazara page, called the post false.

Basir, in comment to the post said, “The name of the son of the president is Tariq, please take back your lies right now. If you want to publish them in future, shame on you liars.”

Ahmadi, a female user said, “Dear admin of this page, please collect correct information before you publish it, this information is a lie.”

A number of other Facebook users said that Ghani had only one son named Tariq Ghani and one daughter named Mariam Ghani and the reports about their bank accounts were wrong.

Sultan Ghani uploaded a photo on his Facebook page in which Ashraf Ghani, Emal Ghani and Sultan Ghani can be seen.

In comments on this photo, Hamid Aryanfar, said, “Guys be always successful, your presence beside your uncle is a great help to the president so the ideas of youths particularly his nephews can make great thoughts for the future generation.”

Correct information:

Durani Wazir, deputy presidential spokesman, in a telephonic contact with Pajhwok Afghan News said that the report was totally wrong and baseless.

“We have seen the report, there was no source for that, and by the way, the president has only one son,” he said.

Ajmal Ghani is cousin of Ashraf Ghani and Emal Ghani and Sultan Ghani are his nephews.

The US Embassy’s media office refused to comment about the issue.

Pajhwok Afghan News critically evaluates speculative posts on social media about presidential runners, explains their factual health and place them in different categories – true, not-so-true, half-true, little true and untrue.

Pajhwok findings show that the report about the bank accounts of Ashraf Ghani is untrue because no source is mentioned in the report.

Zarghoona Salehi

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