MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Public representatives and civil society activists on Tuesday claimed the salaries of hundreds of ‘ghost’ Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel went into private pockets in northern Balkh province.
They said the imaginary presence of ALP men had a negative impact on the province security situation.
The governor’s house did not reject the presence of ‘ghost personnel’ in ALP ranks but said serious efforts were underway to resolve the issue.
Balkh provincial council chairman Mohammad Afzal Hadid told Pajhwok Afghan News that ALP personnel formations needed a serious review in three districts of the province.
According to him, dozens of imaginary ALP personnel exist in the three districts and their salaries and privileges go to commanders’ pockets.
Hadid said, “If we have 200 ALP members on duty in one of these three districts on papers, on the ground there will be only 50. The ghost personnel receive their salaries and privileges under deals with their commanders.”
He said the ALP forces had offered a lot of sacrifices while keeping Balkh secure but the forces lacked proper management and therefore they sometimes committed rogue acts. The police headquarters were trying to clear ALP ranks of imaginary personnel, he added.
He further said the police headquarters had moved 100 ALP men from Chimtal district to Kishindih district because they had no presence in practical in the area.
Atta Mohammad Saho, a civil society activist, told Pajhwok that influential figures and former jihadi commanders widely influenced the formation of ALP forces, which left a negative impact instead of positive in some places.
He said most of ALP members were relatives of former commanders and a number of them had no physical presence and their salaries were pocketed by their commanders.
Saho waned if the issue was not addressed at the earliest possible, the security situation would further deteriorate in the province.
Mujib Momand, another civil society activist in Mazar-i-Sharif City, the provincial capital, told Pajhwok security incidents had increased due to the lack of proper management and wrong formations of security forces in Balkh.
He said some former commanders used their influence to get appointed their men in police. He said some ALP members were living abroad but their salaries went to certain commanders. Momand urged the government to address the issue as soon as possible.
Pajhwok reporter while making this report met a man who had severed two years in the ALP forces.
Hamidullah (not a real name), who served in ALP in Chimtal district, said they performed duty under a commander.
The actual strength of ALP men was 40 personnel but in real only 15 ALP men were present on duty with him. He said after knowing about the anomalies, he left the job after two years.
Munir Farhad, the governor’s spokesman, said imaginary forces did not exist in national police, national army or intelligence forces in the province.
However, he said he could not rule out the presence of ghost personnel in ALP ranks and uprising forces.
Farhad said the governor recently ordered security officials to review ALP formations in districts and local ALP commanders were asked to ensure the presence of ALP personnel or face legal action.
pk/ma
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