Speedy vehicular convoys terrorise Kabul residents

KABUL): Residents of the capital Kabul on Monday alleged supporters of Ahmad Shah Massoud driving fast in the streets harassed people and created a great panic as they emerged to observe the ex-jihadi leader’s 12th death anniversary.

Toting guns, supporters of Massoud were seen moving in Convoys of vehicles in different parts of the city. They carried photos of Massoud and had Rabbani government’s era national flags installed on their vehicles with tinted glass windows instead of the current national flag.

Residents said the individuals in vehicles and on motorbikes violated traffic rules at various places and traveled in high speed terrorising ordinary people.

“The name of Massoud has been misused. No one should be allowed to drive fast and break traffic signals on busy roads,” taxi driver Mohammad Hussain said.

He said he had to stop his car on the side of a road on seeing the convoys of Massoud supporters approaching. “I feared they could crush me to death,” he said.

“I saw three vehicles with photos of Massoud crossing the Karta-i-Parwan square in a high speed. They nearly hit an old man,” Hassina, an employee at the Public Health Ministry, said.

Another resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said posters of Massoud had been installed in each square of Kabul. Hundreds of Massoud’s armed supporters occupied roads all the day and harassed pedestrians and people in other vehicles.

He said the demonstration showed how warlords treated ordinary people and exposed the behavior of jihadis. “Is there no law or police in this country? Is carrying weapons legal here,” he asked. He said jihadi leaders should stop their supporters from harassing common people and should condemn such an unruly attitude.

“If Massoud was alive, he would not have let anyone to misuse his name,” a Khair Khana resident, Ahmadullah, said, believing such acts meant defaming Massoud.

Officials of a private TV channel, Zhwandoon, said Massoud supporters pelted stones and resorted to fire at the building. They tore down photos of Ghazi Amanullah Khan and replaced with Massoud pictures.

The Ahmad Shah Massoud Foundation a day earlier asked its supporters not to travel in form of convoys and avoid creating problems for people. It also asked police not to allow anyone to create the law and order situation.

myn/ma

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