Stop torturing passengers, activists ask Parwan police

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Civil society activists in northern Balkh province on Sunday demanded an end to torture of passengers going to northern provinces on ethnic and tribal lines, saying the problem emanated from irresponsible behaviur of unprofessional police at check-points on the highway.

Pajhwok Afghan News talked to individuals who claimed paying 4,000 afghanis in bribe at a check-point at the entrance to Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh.

Over the past few days, police in central Parwan province have been preventing passengers, who looked suspects, from travelling to northern provinces.

Some people these days travel to northern provinces for work in poppy fields, a crop prohibited in Islam and the constitution of the country.

The increasing insecurity has resulted in a widespread cultivation of poppy crop in northern parts of the country.

Fazal Haq Andrabi, the counter-narcotics department head for Baghlan province, expressed concern over the increased cultivation of poppy.

He said the illicit crop had been grown in five districts of the province, registering a two-fold increase compared to last year’s cultivation.

A survey conducted by Khat-i-Naw Foundation in Balkh, says areas where poppy crop is grown this year are comparatively stable and peaceful.

Asadullah and another 15 passengers were stopped by police on reaching Mazar-i-Sharif. They were invited by Balkh people to help them in the harvest of poppy.

Asadullah told Pajwhok Afghan News they reached here from Kabul through Panjsher in three vehicles. On their way, police took money from them and allowed their journey to the province.

He said they were stopped in Samangan province as well and their Tazkeras were checked and then allowed to go ahead.

But civil society activist Ahmad Javed said stopping people from visiting northern provinces was benefiting the enemy.

He accused unprofessional policemen deployed at check-posts on the highway were involved in the improper behavior with passengers.

Balkh police chief Brig. Gen. Syed Kamal Sadaat questioned “why people don’t cooperate with police in this critical situation.” He said no one had the right to bar the Afghans from visiting other provinces.

He warned policemen against illegally taking money from passengers to allow them to enter the northern provinces and asked people to cooperate with security forces.

nh/ma