Big rally staged in support of police chief

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Hundreds of residents on Thursday staged a demonstration in support of Brig. Gen. Aminullah Amarkhel, police chief for northern Baghlan province, an official said.

Amarkhel has been serving as police chief for the province for the last one year, with locals expressing satisfaction over his professionalism and performance.

People took to the streets in Pul-i-Khumri, the provincial capital, and in a number of other districts, announcing their unflinching support to Amarkhel.

The demonstrators were chanting slogans in support of Amarkhel and said he thwarted many sabotage plots hatched up by Pakistan in Baghlan.

Bismillah Attash, a protester, said some anti-state elements with links to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were trying to remove the police officer from his position because he had controlled anti-state activities in the province.

The protesters said the officer had played a highly significant role in introducing reforms in police department and containing corruption in police department.

The residents of Khan Jan, Doshi and Baghlan-i-Markazi districts of the province had also staged separate rallies in support of the police chief. Nazir Ahmad, a protester and resident of Doshi district, said: “We strongly back Amarkhel and we are against his transfer.”

Amarkhel ruled out encouraging people to stage rallies in his favour. “If I am transferred to another province is no matter to me. I will discharge my duty wherever I am posted.

He alleged some circles with links to Pakistan’s ISI wanted him to be removed from his position so that they could restart mayhem in the province.

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