Rebel sympathisers exist in Zabul civil deptts: police

QALAT (PAN): The police chief on Thursday claimed there were some officials in provincial civil departments having sympathies with the rebels in southern Zabul province.

Brig. Gen. Fazal Ahmad Sherzad told a news conference in Qalat, the provincial capital, the sympathisers tried to convince the government into accepting rebel demands.

Without naming any official or department, he said an elderly man got killed when the insurgents opened fire at police in Qalat three days ago.

He said the police were blamed for killing the elder, with some officials at the behest of the rebels accusing security forces of being unable to maintain security in the province.

He said the elements had demanded his resignation, but a fact-finding report revealed the man had been killed with bullets fired by the insurgents.

Sherzad urged residents to continue cooperating with police in maintaining security and should not trust the negative propaganda against security forces.

To a question, the police boss linked incidents of violence taking place in the province to its border with Pakistan. He said the long porous border remains open.

“I do not rule out that there are elements who receive salaries from government but support militants,” he said.

On Wednesday, some residents told reporters that they wanted the police chief to be sacked for failing to keep security.

Sherzad urged media representatives to include comments of the accused party in filing their reports.

His predecessor was removed from job last year when he dug out corpses of two militants from graves for autopsy.

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