Jalalabad moneychangers say received life threats

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Moneychangers in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, on Saturday asked the government to issue them arms license to protect themselves against individuals threatening them with elimination.

They told a press conference here that armed individuals in military uniforms were calling them over the phone to demand money. “If anyone denies, they threaten them and their family members with elimination,” the moneychangers said.

Haji Gheljai Laghmani, deputy head of Jalalabad Moneychangers Union, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the government, particularly security organs, had never paid attention to their security.

He said armed men in government uniform used to rob their money, kill or injure them but the government was doing nothing.

“We feel unsafe in the money exchange market in Jalalabad city and even in homes,” Laghmani said.

“We can take care of ourselves if the government allows us to carry weapons. The government can do nothing about our safety, illegal armed men enter the money exchange market on broad daylight, we do not feel safe when we send our children to school,” he said.

Another moneychanger, Ziaur Rahman Hadawal, also made the same complaint. Just few days back, an armed man in military uniform entered the money exchange market and injured a moneychanger and killed his cook, he said.

“We arrested the attacker and handed him over to security organs, but he is yet to be sentenced, so we want the criminal to be sentenced publicly to make it a lesson for other thieves,” he said.

Haji Guldad, another moneychanger, said they were threatened with elimination everyday through telephonic contacts.

He said unidentified people used to threaten moneychangers and their family members on the telephone with kidnapping them or their family members for ransom.

Jalalabad Moneychangers Union complained they have been sharing their problem with security officials and the governor’s houses on a daily basis but no avail.

Mohammad Nasar Kamawal, a provincial council member, confirmed the issue and accused security organs of negligence to control the situation.

He said government organs should pay attention to security of all people including moneychangers.

Nangarhar governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, told Pajhwok that security organs and the governor’s house always heard traders and moneychangers about their problems.

About weapons’ license, he said: “Most of moneychangers are given license of weapons, but the license is misused in most cases, so sometimes the licenses are prevented from being issued.”

Security problems have increased in Nangarhar and people keep complaining about the situation.

mds/ma