‘Power lines cut by Nangarhar official being investigated’

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Provincial council head of eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday said power cables allegedly severed by the provincial refugees and repatriation director in Jalalabad city would be investigated.

The provincial council head, Ahmad Ali Hazrat, expressed the views during his meeting with local residents of 3rd police district of Jalalabad, the provincial capital, today.

Local residents accused Ghulam Haidar Faqirzai, the provincial refugees and repatriation director, of cutting power cables of their area with gun fires.

Zamari, a resident of 3rd police district of Jalalabad city, said they complained to the provincial council to resolve their problem.

Sultan Mohammad, another resident of the area said that their electricity supply was cut off after gun fires near his house around 10pm on Tuesday night.

“When we went out of our house, we saw bodyguards of the refugees and repatriation director in a ranger pick-up who had cut our power cables through gun fires,” he said.

Ahmad Wali, an elder of the area, said two bullets fired by the bodyguards struck his house’s yard and the firing continued for half an hour.

If the government continued treating people this way, it would definitely create distance between the public and the government and people might likely join militants’ ranks, he said.

Provincial council head, Ahmad Ali Hazrat told the local residents that a delegation was appointed to investigate the issue.

The delegation would prepare its report and the relevant organs would then make a decision in this regard, he said.

Nangarhar refugees and repatriation director, Ghulam Haidar Faqirzai, rejected involvement in the case.

Provincial power utility head refused to comment on the issue.

Sherin Agha, chief of 3rd police district of Jalalabad, said the incident happened in the 5th police district.

He said the area residents were told by local officials that the power cables were severed by the provincial refugees and repatriation director.

But Agha said the problem was resolved after technical team of the power utility repaired the lines.

mds/sns