Rallies staged in Gardez for & against governor

GARDEZ (PAN): Two separate demonstrations were staged on Monday in Gardez, the capital of southeastern Paktia province, in support and against Governor Juma Khan Hamdard.

Up to 100 people, including tribal elders and civil society representatives, took to the streets against what one organiser called the governor of sheer incompetence and involvement in corruption.

Noor Ahmad Rekhtiawal, in an exclusive chat with Pajhwok Afghan News, said the objective behind their protest was to highlight Hamdard’s consistent failure to bring development and prosperity to the province.

He also took a swipe at the governor for disregarding civil society leaders and seeking to create divisions among them in a bid to conceal his failures.       

The governor spent only one day a week in Gardez and six days in Kabul, alleged another participant, Haji Khwani, who went on to ask how he could resolve the myriad problems facing Paktia.

On the other hand, about as many individuals staged a rally for the governor, extolling his performance and administrative skills. Their leader Mohammad Bashir insisted Hamdard had done a lot over the past few years to ensure the province’s progress on a fast-track basis. 

Meanwhile, the gubernatorial spokesman called the anti-Hamdard protest a failure. Only handful of elements with a vested interest took part in the demonstration, said Roohullah Samoon.

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