Protestors demand release of student

JALALABAD (PAN): Hundreds of Nangarhar University students on Sunday protested against the arrest of a fellow student by intelligence officials in the eastern Nangarhar Province and demanded his immediately release.

In the morning, protesters blocked the Pushtunistan-Public Health).

Mohammad Tariq Haidar, deputy chairman of the students’ union, told Pajhwok Afghan News, that on Saturday NDS officials arrested Ahmad Shah, the university’s second year physics department student, but the reason for his detention was not known.

Another protester, Sulaiman Khogyanai, said that some 300 students would continue their protest until NDS officials freed him.

Shah was detained based on documents and evidence but if it was proved that the student was innocent, he would be released, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, the governor’s spokesman.

He criticised the students for protesting instead of discussing the matter with officials or appointing a defence lawyer to help Shah.

myn/vp