MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Gunfire erupted between government forces and supporters of a former governor Atta Mohammad Noor in northern Balkh province soon after talks on the appointment of the new police chief ended inconclusively.
To improve security in Balkh, the Ministry of Interior appointed Raqib Mubarez, commander of the 222 Special Police Force Unit, as new police chief, but Noor, the chief executive of Jamiat Islami Party, resisted the government’s decision.
Governor’s spokesman Munir Farhad told Pajhwok Afghan News that MoI Security Secretary Gen. Khoshal Sadaat arrived in Mazar-i-Sharif on Thursday morning to introduce the new police chief. Mubarez had arrived in the province on Wednesday evening.
Farhad said Noor’s supporters and the delegation from Kabul held talks this afternoon, but the talks ended without any positive outcome.
He said after the talks, firing of light and heavy weapons erupted this afternoon at around 3:00pm in the vicinity of the police headquarters.
Nasrat Rahimi, MoI deputy spokesman, said illegal armed individuals opened firing at security forces near the police headquarters in Mazar-i-Sharif, leaving one policeman wounded.
In retaliation, security forces arrested 25 illegal armed personnel and took full control of the police headquarters and Mazar-i-Sharif City.
He added now the police chief was at the police headquarters and he would be formally introduced to his post today.
Noor, in a recent message to his supporters, ordered to come out for protection of their lives and properties.
nh/ma
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