Hundreds rally against Logar governor, mayor

PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): Hundreds of residents on Saturday staged a protest rally in the capital of central Logar province, accusing the provincial governor and the mayor of administrative corruption.

Some 500 people took part in the demonstration in Pul-i-Alam, chanting full-throated slogans against the two senior officials. They asked the central government to investigate corrupt officials and remove them.

Amarullah, one of the rally participants, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Governor Niaz Mohammad Amiri and Mayor Ahmad Khan had committed massive corruption in every project and even sold green belts in the provincial capital.

“The mayor and the governor are partners (in corruption). When they find a piece of (government) land, they sell it for themselves,” the protestor alleged.

Logar local council member Haji Abdul Baqi said the governor and the mayor had sold government properties without any legal process. He said the government should inquire about their corrupt activities.

Another protestor Haji Habib said the two officials should be removed for being reluctant to stop committing corruption and unauthorised activities.

“It is beyond our understanding that why the central government is not taking into account the complaints of Logar residents,” he said.

In an exclusive chat, Governor Amiri told Pajhwok Afghan News that protest was people’s civil right but rejected allegations against him. He accused a Wolesi Jirga member from Logar Akbar Stanikzai of inciting the protest.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ahmad Khan Ulfat also rejected the allegations and said all his mayoral activities had been legal.

“Today’s protest was organised by Stanikzai after his demands were rejected,” said the mayor, who accused the lawmaker of demanding a piece of land and two towering buildings from the municipality.

He said they had sold some land in the city after going through all legal procedures and work on that was ongoing.

MP Stanikzai acknowledged he organised the protest and rejected allegations leveled against him by the two officials.

“I am a public representative and it’s my right to defend people’s rights,” said the lower house member, who claimed possessing evidence and documents showing the involvement of the governor and the mayor in illegal activities.

He warned to continue their protest until the two officials were removed.

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