Another Wolesi Jirga candidate killed in Ghazni

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): A Wolesi Jirga candidate has been killed by unidentified gunmen in southern Ghazni province, officials said on Sunday.

Governor’s spokesman, Mohammad Arif Noori, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Haji Mohammad Daud, a Wolesi Jirga candidate and a trader, was found dead in Mughlan area of Ghazni city, the provincial capital, on Saturday.

He said unknown armed men first severely beat the candidate and then killed him.

A police official, who wished to go unnamed, said Daud was kidnapped by unidentified men when Ghazni city was under attack from Taliban insurgents.

His body found on Saturday and his family identified him from his shoes and scarf, the source said.

Nasir Ahmad Faqiri, a provincial council member, also confirmed the incident.

The Wolesi Jirga elections are scheduled for October 20, but differences over the election system in Ghazni has delayed the process in the province for an indefinite time.

Daud was the Wolesi Jirga fourth candidate to be killed by unidentified men.

A Wolesi Jirga candidate from Kandahar was recently killed while another candidate from Kabul and a third from Parwan province were killed about a month ago.

mds/ma