Court suspends Pul-i-Khumri mayor from office

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The court of appeal has ruled to suspend the mayor of Pul-i-Khumri, the capital of northern Baghlan province, from his mayoral authority over law violations and failing to maintain transparency in his department’s revenue collections.

Judge Din Mohammad Quraishi told Pajhwok Afghan News eight cases had been registered against the mayor, Safar Mohammad Safar, but he was yet to appear before the court, a reason Quraishi cited for his suspension from duty.

He said there had been a lack of transparency in municipality’s revenue collections as it was unknown how much of the income was used and how much collected.

The government had given the mayor a single-storey house, but he expanded the house to a three-storey building with funds from the municipality’s revenue, Quraishi said.

But Safar rejected all the allegations against him and said, “The house I was living in for four years had damaged and needed reconstruction, so I spent my own money to rebuild and expand it.” He said he was ready to stand trial.

Safar accused the appeal court director of fabricating the allegations after he denied him a plot of land in front of the governor’s house. He called his suspension an illegal act.

Meanwhile, a number of municipality workers staged a protest against their department for not providing them with needed equipment and uniform.

“We would not work until we are provided with handcarts, special uniforms, shovels and brooms,” Niaz Mohammad, one of the protestors, said.

Provincial council head Safdar Mohseni also said people were unhappy with the mayor’s performance for failing to resolve their problems.

mds/ma

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