Paktia governor’s guards killed by Balkh police

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Paktia Governor Juma Khan Hamdard on Friday accused Balkh police of killing three of his bodyguards and wounding four others.

Hamdard told Pajhwok Afghan News police fired at his vehicle in Bandar area on the road between the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul at 10am.

The gunfire triggered a two-hour clash between his guards and police, the governor said, adding three of his security men were killed and four others injured.

“Whenever I visit Mazar-i-Sharif, the Bandar police post personnel misbehave with me. Today, they fired at my vehicle without any reason. The Balkh police chief reached the scene two hours after the clash,” he alleged.

Deputy police chief Abdur Raziq Qadiri confirmed the fire exchange in the area. He said one policeman was killed and another injured in the clash, which also caused casualties among Hamdard’s guards.

With the incident under investigation, Hamdard later resumed his journey to Kabul. His spokesman Roohullah Samoon said the governor had escaped unhurt.   

Meanwhile, the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) denounced the attack on the governor as a dastardly act of saboteurs.

The assault was the handiwork of those who were trying to fuel unrest in the country days ahead of the preliminary result of the presidential election.

“While strongly condemning this incident, the IDLG wants the security organs to investigate it and bring the perpetrators to justice,” a statement from the directorate said.

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