Hajj affairs chief found dead in Ghazni

GHAZNI (Pajhwok): The Hajj affairs chief for the Waghaz district of southern Ghazni province has been found dead, an official said Monday.

Governor’s spokesman, Shafiq Nang told Pajhwok Afghan News that Waghaz district chief for Hajj affairs, Mamoor Khoshal was also found dead in Syedabad district late on Sunday.

He said the body of the slain Khoshal was shifted by locals to Ghazni province. Police had launched investigation into the incident. No one so far claimed responsibility for the series of killings of Hajj officials.

Earlier, Ghazni Hajj Affairs director, Haji Fazl Ahmad’s body was found in the Syedabad district of Maidan Wardak on Saturday, two days after he was kidnapped along with two others, including the Hajj officer for Waghaz district.

A day earlier, a brother of the slain official who wanted to transfer the body was shot dead on the Ghazni-Maidan Wardak highway. Shirin was ambushed by gunmen after he left Ghazni for Maidan Wardak to shift the body of his brother.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the kidnap-slaying, but local officials blamed the Taliban. Police have launched an investigation into the incident. No one so far claimed responsibility.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said earlier they had investigated the kidnap-slaying incident but failed to find the culprits.

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