Ghor prosecutor accuses governor of warning him

CHAGHCHARAN (PAN province on Monday accused the governor of interfering in his affairs, claiming he has been warned of harsh consequences.

Gul Ahmad Haideri told Pajhwok Afghan News Governor Abdullah Hewadwal had warned him to release the agriculture director, who was detained a day earlier on the charge of illegally distributing government land and aid to farmers.

Farid Din was arrested for allotting a farm for agriculture research, green areas and a veterinary clinic to an Afghan army base, Haidari said.

The research farm and green areas were spread on 20 acres of land and the vet clinic on 1.5 acres, he said. Farid Din also allegedly committed anomalies in distributing aid to growers, including his relatives.

“Hewadwal has asked me to immediately free Farid Din, otherwise I will have to face the music,” he said, adding the governor was trying to influence a bribery case against the education director.

He insisted the two detained officials were being treated in accordance with the law, but the governor was trying to derail the legal process. Haideri said the education director was a relative of Hewadwal.

However, the governor said the agriculture director had been arrested without any evidence. “Farid Din has committed no illegality. He has been implicated in the case due to his affiliation with a particular tribe.”

He said Farid Din had distributed the aid to farmers under the supervision of a commission and given the land for the army base on condition if the ministry concerned had no objection.

Rejecting calls for cooperation in the education director’s case, Hewadwal said the attorney had not informed him before the arrest of the agriculture department head.

“I did not interfere in the attorney’s affairs, but only asked for information about the cases,” he explained.

frm/ma/mud