JALALABAD (Pajhwok): A number of residents on Saturday staged a protest demonstration in Mehtarlam, the capital of eastern Laghman province, asking officials to reopen blocked roads and initiate a drive against encroachments.
Sharif Jan, a protestor, told Pajhwok Afghan News they wanted to register a strong protest over the illegally constructed house in the middle of a road in Sultan Ghazi Baba Township in Mehtarlam.
The land on which the house had been built was given by the provincial municipality to the owner, he alleged. “The road leading to the teacher’ training centre is completely blocked,” he claimed.
Babrak Niazai, another participant of the rally, said most of roads in Mehtarlam were blocked because of encroachments by government offices. He said a road close to the provincial court was also blocked by the officials.
A number of other roads were closed by security forces in the city. Pajhwok Afghan News has tried to get the views of Mehtarlam mayor about the issues but he was not available for comments.
However, Sarhadi Zwak, the governor’s spokesman, said that a person had illegally constructed a house on a prohibited area of the township.
“The issue has taken to court and now it is under process with police headquarter, but we have no more details in this connection,” he added.
The Laghman police chief refused to comment on the issue.
The protesters warned to continue their rally until their legitimated demand was resolved.
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