Logar mayor detained on graft charges

PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): Special Forces of the Interior Ministry on Thursday detained the mayor of central Logar province on corruption charges, an official said.

While going to Kabul from Pul-i-Alam, Mayor Ahmad Khan Ulfat was arrested in Sang-i-Nawishta area at 10am, the provincial police chief told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Brig. Gen. Abdul Hakim Ishaqzai said the mayor had been detained on charges of graft, abuse of authority and illicitly selling state-owned lands.

Meanwhile, a ministry official verified the arrest, saying the mayor had long been under observation. He was taken into custody after the accusations were found valid, said the source, who did not want to be named.

Ulfat reached his office at 9am before leaving for Kabul, according Habibullah, a Logar municipality official, who said they received information about the mayor’s arrest in the afternoon.

A number of parliamentarians, workers and residents recently accused the mayor of involvement in corruption, including the sale of government lands and illegal withdrawals from the municipality’s bank account.

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