Targeted attacks worry Ghazni residents

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Three people including a civil society activist were gunned down within a week in southern Ghazni province, terrifying residents who demand immediate steps to control the situation.

Mohammad Kazem Rasouli, a resident of Ghazni City, said targeted attacks were taking place in the province for years.

“Five persons were killed inside the city in as many days and this has been happening for years, but no institution takes any action,” he said.

He said mostly innocent people were killed near security check-posts who were unable to stop them.

Civil society activist Mohammad Arif Farahmad said influential individuals were often targeted and killed in Ghazni province.

“Besides government officials, civil society activists and tribal elders are often killed. This is a huge problem which the government should deal with sternly.”

Aziz Azemi, the governor’s secretary, said a civil society activist and two policemen had been killed in the past five days in Ghazni City. He said most targeted attacks involved personal enmity.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that most of targeted attacks in Ghazni had no link with the Taliban.

“In the past, the Taliban might have targeted some individuals, but the killing of three persons recently has nothing to do with the Taliban,” he said.

According to officials 21 people have been killed in the outgoing solar year while over 20 people arrested in connection in with targeted attacks.

Nh/ma