Arm us if you can’t protect us, residents ask govt

SAR-I-PUL (Pajhwok): Residents of northern Sar-i-Pul on Wednesday accused local authorities of security negligence, asking the government to provide them with weapons to ensure their safety.

After meeting the acting governor, the residents told journalists that the provincial administration’s performance in dealing with the prevalent law and order situation in the province had been poor.

Sayed Habib Rastgar, a local elder, alleged local officials could not address people’s grievances. He suggested if the government could not provide security, the locals should be armed.

He complained those who killed Hussein Nazari, a former provincial council member, along with nine others, were still free. He accused the government of holding out empty promises.

Rashid, a resident of Char Bagh area near Sar-i-Pul City, said officials in Kabul were unaware of people’s plight in far-flung provinces.

“The reason we have gathered here is that Taliban were extorting money from the people of Sar-i-Pul City and Sayyad district under the nose of the local officials,” the man continued.

“Ninety percent of Sar-i-Pul is insecure,” he alleged. Local officials could not be reached for comments on the public claims regarding the nose-diving security situation.

hg/mud

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