Andarabi in Balkh terminates 8 police officials

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Acting Interior Minister Massoud Andarabi on Saturday visited northern Balkh province to assess security situation and terminated eight police officers over dereliction of duty.

Addressing a press conference here, Andarabi said he visited the province to evaluate security situation and removed the eight officers over their failure to perform their duty honestly.

He said the terminated officials included six security district chiefs of Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital. He said seven districts of Balkh faced high security risk and security forces would take measures in this regard.

The minister said he had received complaints about increasing crimes in Mazar-i-Sharif and reshuffle of police officers would help improve the situation. He said measures were being taken to increase police strength in the province.

Referring to the start of intra-Afghan talks in the Qatari capital Doha, Andarabi hoped the talks would help end bloodshed in the country. He said it was due to sacrifices of security forces that the warring sides agreed to talks.

Speaking on the occasion, Balkh governor Mohammad Ishaq Rahguzar said the government was making efforts to improve security situation in the province. He urged the masses to cooperate with security forces in controlling crimes and maintaining security.

Civil society activist Mohammad Bashir told Pajhwok that high ranking officials used to visit Balkh when crimes increased, but nothing change with their statements.

He said the Interior Ministry should punish police officials who had failed to prevent crimes. He said militant activity had reached the city’s entrance and if strict measures were not taken, the situation would further worsen.

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