Governor’s guards beat up RTA reporter

CHARIKAR (RTA) reporter was beaten up by security guards of the Panjsher governor on Thursday after he wrote about the provincial administration’s weaknesses and flaws on Facebook.

The incident occurred Parakh, the capital of central Panjsher province, Shukrullah Mashal, the victim, told Pajhwok Afghan News. He alleged the gubernatorial guards thrashed him just because of his post regarding public problems.

“Facebook is a social networking tool, on which I wrote about the government’s neglect of a road that was damaged in April this year because of rockslides. The provincial authorities have failed to pay any attention to the issue,” he said.

Mashal insisted the guards manhandled him for writing about the provincial administration’s failure. He went on to urge the journalist community to defend his right and bring his attackers to justice for the sake of media freedom in Afghanistan.

But Governor Abdur Rahman Kabiri said he had not directed anybody to beat the reporter. “Mashal being a government servant should have taken up the problem with me before releasing the report,” he argued.

In reaction to the incident, Afghanistan Independent Journalist Association deputy head Ahmed Hanayesh promised they would investigate the case. He endorsed the reporter’s viewpoint.  

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