Massoud’s supporters ransack TV station

KABUL): Supporters of Ahmad Shah Massoud on Monday pelted stones and fired gunshots at the building of a private TV station in Kabul, the channel alleged.

Mirwais Stanikzai, who is responsible for political news and shows at the Zhwandoon TV channel, said the incident came days after the station’s guards had a clash with a group of youth pretending to be Masoud’s followers on August 19, when Afghanistan celebrated its 94th independence anniversary.

The individuals wanted to forcibly replace Massoud’s portraits with those of King Ghazi Amanullah Khan displayed at the station’s gate.

But channel’s security guards thwarted their move. The crowd reemerged on Monday and pelted stones and some having guns opened fire at the building, but no one was hurt, Stanikzai said.

The claim coincides with the 12th death anniversary of Massoud, a veteran jihadi leader, who was assassinated in Sept, 2001 by two suicide bombers posing as journalists in northern Takhar province.

A day earlier, Massoud’s brother Ahmad Wali Massoud called on Massoud’s supporters to avoid creating problems while observing the death anniversary.

He asked security organs to prevent incidents creating problems for people and identify elements misusing Massoud’s pictures.

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