Tanker drivers protest highway insecurity

HERAT CITY (PAN): Tanker drivers and representatives of transport companies on Saturday staged a protest demonstration in front of the governor’s house in western Herat province.

The demonstrators, who gathered in Injeel district, arrived in front of the governor’s house to protest insurgent attacks on their vehicles on the Herat-Kabul highway.

They also brought the remains of tankers torched in Taliban attacks on the route. Mohammad Nasim, one of the protestors, told Pajhwok Afghan News his vehicle was among 23 others torched by the Taliban during an attack a day earlier.

He alleged police escorting the convoy fled after the attack, enabling set alight all vehicles. The government had been unable to provide security for their vehicles and compensate them for the losses.

Another protestor, Pacha, said police could not provide security for their vehicles, a job he suggested should be given back to private security firms.

The Ministry of Interior has dissolved all private security firms and assigned public order police with providing security for vehicles carrying logistics and other supplies on highways.

Around 200 drivers took part in the rally and vowed to continue their protest until security for their vehicles was guaranteed.

Governor Syed Fazlullah Wahidi later invited some representatives of the protestors to his office and assured to discuss their problems with security organs.

ma/mud

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