Protest against Khost governor slammed as illegal

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Some provincial council members, tribal elders and religious scholars on Sunday slammed as illegal a protest movement by two lawmakers and their supporters against the governor of southern Khost province.

Maulvi Unity Council head in Khost, said the protest led by Kamal Nasir Osuli and Humayun, was unlawful. They claimed there were gunmen in the protest camp in front of the governor’s house.

The lawmakers have accused the governor, Abdul Jabbar Naeemi, of incompetency and administrative corruption — a charge rejected by the provincial administration.

“These illegal armed individuals are not only creating problems for government officials, but also disrupting traffic in the city,” Mohammad said, asking security organs to disarm the irresponsible armed men and do away with problems being created for residents.

A tribal elder from Lakan area of Khost City, Mohammad Qayum Khan, said the protest movement was illegal because it involved illegal armed people.

“These individuals are equipped with Kalashnikovs, machineguns and other weapons installed on their cars. This cannot be called a civil movement, they should raise their demands through legal channels,” Khan said.

He warned tribal elders would take action on their own against the armed men if security organs failed to disarm them and the two lawmakers would be responsible for any possible consequences.

Qalandar district development council head, Gulab Mangal, also said if the protest movement was not controlled, it would result into unwanted problems.

On the other hand, Humayun, a member of the lower house, who leads the movement, rejected the existence of illegal armed men in the protest camp in Khost City.

“We both have six bodyguards each and each provincial council member has one guard each,” he said, adding members of the movement carried small weapons only.

But he did not comment on problems created for traffic and governor’s house officers by their armed supporters.

Provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Faizullah Ghairat said a high-level delegation from Kabul was scheduled to visit Khost and investigate the issue. He warned anyone involved in illegal actions would be taken to justice.

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