Farah prisoners remain on hunger strike

FARAH CITY (PAN): More than 180 prisoners in the central jail of western Farah province continue to be on hunger strike since Thursday, an official said on Monday.

Provincial council chief, Abdul Basir Khairkhwa, told Pajhwok Afghan News a delegation had been sent by the governor’s house to the jail to investigate the issue.

The delegation included Khairkhwa and several other officials. He said political inmates were protesting non-implementation of a presidential decree, giving them remissions.

He said 120 of the prisoners had been arrested by Afghan forces during the past one year and their cases were yet to be finalised.

Acting provincial council head Abdul Hameed Hameed, who was also a member of the delegation, said the prisoners wanted the presidential directive to be enforced immediately.

Looking weak, the inmates warned of a continued hunger strike until their demands were met, Hameed said, adding the team had submitted its report to the governor’s office and the provincial court.

Mohammad Yaqub, a resident of Farah, said his brother-in-law had been arrested eight months ago on the charge of having links to militants but his case was yet to be taken up for hearing.

mds/mud

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