Marking the three year anniversary of former Afghan President Ustad Burhanuddin Rabbani's assassination, relatives, friends and supporters gathered to pay their respects in Kabul on Saturday.
In addition to words of lament, questions were raised about the current political crisis and why the investigation into Rabbani's death has gone nowhere.
The ceremony was on Wazir Akbar Khan Hill, near the burial site of the former president. His son, Salahuddin Rabbani and number of Jihadi leaders placed flowers on his grave.
"In order to open a new page in Afghanistan, Rabbani handed over the power peacefully to the current president of Afghanistan," Vice President Muhammad Younus Qanooni. "A teacher in Jihad, in battles and in peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another, something that his generation has inherited from him."
The death of Rabbani mourned as a great loss for the country, and those who spoke at the event emphasized that if he was still alive today the election crisis would be resolved.
"I think not only the problem of elections, but other problems that Afghanistan is facing right now, would not have happened if Ustad Rabbani, Marshal Fahim and other elders were here today," said Muhammad Khan, the first vice president of presidential candidate Abdullah Adbullah.
Rabbani's family and loved ones raised the issue of the investigation into his death. Zahera Rabbani, his widow, suggested that it is clear who committed the act, but that they are protected for the sake of national interests.
"There is only one Ustad (teacher), it is a great loss." she said. "I hope that those behind his killing are shattered to pieces; it is very clear who is behind it, but we didn't do anything about it, to prevent the country from falling into pieces."
Burhannudin Rabbani was the leader of Jamiat Islami Afghanistan and the head of the High Peace Council before his death. He took a strong stance against terrorism.
Rabbani was killed three when suicide bomber masquerading as a envoy for peace negotiations detonated a bomb hidden in his turban.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/2480