Dostum returns explosives to govt

SHIBARGHAN (PAN): Uzbek leader Abdul Rashid Dostum on Thursday returned 50 boxes of explosives belonging to the Mines and Petroleum Department of northwestern Jawzjan province to the authorities, three months after the explosives had gone missing.

After the explosives meant for extracting mineral deposits disappeared, Jawzjan attorney office arrested the petroleum and mines department director, Qutbuddin Qaim, along with a military official.

But on Thursday the Junbish Milli Islami Afghanistan (JMIA) leader handed the explosives to the National Directorate of Security.

A spokesman for Dostum party, Kinja Kargar said the explosives had been taken from the department because they feared militants could steal them to make bombs.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News the explosives were needed to be kept in a safe place, keeping in view the security situation of that time. “Now as the situation has improved, the explosives were returned to the department concerned.”

Dostum has been in Kabul over the past three months after he developed a dispute with former governor Mohammad Alam Sayee, who was then replaced by Bai Murad Quainly.
Jawzjan petroleum and mines director Qutbuddin Qaim complained he had been illegally detained for one month in the explosives disappearance case.

“I asked those who arrested me and took me to jail to restore my dignity now,” he said, adding his reputation had been damaged and he lost hisjob too.

Despite his explanation to the Attorney General Office, police arrested him without investigating the case, Qaim said.

But investigative head at the AG’s Office Hafizullah said Qaim’s reputation had not been affected, adding the explosives had been given to irresponsible individuals and his office could investigate everyone on suspicion.

mds/ma

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