Ahmadzai orders probe into Paktia massacre

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai has ordered investigation into the brutal murder of nearly a dozen government officials in the Zurmat district of southeastern Paktia province.

The 11 government servants were found shot to death in various parts of the district a day earlier, when local authorities in Paktia called them civilians, but Taliban said the dead were security personnel.

District hospital chief, Haji Mohammad, on Wednesday told Pajhwok Afghan News the bullet-riddled bodies were brought to the facility in the morning. The corpses were found in different areas of the district, the official said.

Five of the victims were identified as residents of Khost, one from Logar and four others from Paktika, Mohammad said, adding the killers remained unknown.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the fighters had killed eight policemen and an intelligence operative in Zurmat district. The security personnel had been captured on their way home, he added

A statement from the Presidential Palace said the government employees were travelling in a vehicle in Zurmat when they were intercepted and mercilessly gunned down.

It said President Ahmadzai had strongly condemned the incident and had directed the Ministry of Interior and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) to assist families of the victims.

Ahmadzai office said the Ministry of Interior had appointed an authorised delegation headed by Border Police Commander Gen. Shafique Fazli and IDLG to investigate the killings.

The Presidential Palace directed the country’s defence and security forces to arrest the criminal gang involved and brought it to justice.

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