Parwan PC member threatens Pajhwok staff

KABUK (Pajhwok): A member of the Provincial Council (PC) of central Parwan province, Esmatullah Mohammadi, yesterday forced his way into the Pajhwok Afghan News main office in Kabul along with his private armed guards and threatened the staff and administration.

Mohammadi is accused of land-grabbing in Bagram district, owning fake school degree and attacking the Kharoti tribe office in Bagram.

A Pajhwok reporter contacted Mohammadi to seek his opinion about the allegations against him.

But the public representative member talked in an aggressive tone with the reporter who recorded the telephonic conversation with Mohammadi.

“I have completed school or not it is none of your business. You are a media person; you have nothing to do with this matter. Don’t waste your time,” Mohammadi said in his telephonic conversation.

Latter Mohammadi talked to the news agency’s manager in the same aggressive manner and sought apology at the end and promised to come to Pajhwok office with documents.

On Wednesday, the PC member along with his armed bodyguards forced his way into the Pajhwok central office without permission.

During a meeting with Pajhwok senior staff, Mohammadi said: “I hope you people will not waste your energy in unnecessary topics.”

“The land grabbing issue is six years old. If I am a land usurper, there is government, judiciary and police who should arrest me,” he said.

About his school certificate, he said many government officials, including CEO Abdullah Abdullah and others held fake degrees and Pajhwok should make a report on them.

“On directives of a few corrupt people why do you waste your time, you indulged yourself in unnecessary issues that create problems,” continued Mohammadi.

He said it was government’s responsibility to investigate the land grabbing issue of not a media’s job.

During the one hour meeting, Mohammadi used an aggressive language and warned if Pajhwok published land grabbing related report regarding him, he would tie the Pajhwok reporter in Parwan to a car and would drag him.

“Don’t disturb people. I swear, I would capture your reporter in Parwan and would beat him up.”

He repeated his warning saying he would capture the Pajhwok reporter and would beat him fifty times if the report was published.

Pajhwok Afghan News head Danish Karokhel said his organization was committed to journalistic principles and used to publish reports after taking viewpoints from all sides.

Kharokhul said if a Pajhwok staff member faced any security issues in Kabul or provinces, the responsibility would be on Mohammadi.

He condemned Mohammadi’s entry to Pajhwok office with armed bodyguards and said the PC member used harsh language during the meeting.

He asked the government to take steps for safety and protection of journalists and media organizations in the country.

nh/ma

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