24-year-old appointed as district police chief

KABUL (Pajhwok): A 24-year-old youth has been appointed as a district police chief in northern Balkh province.

Second Lieutenant Ahmad Ser Mujahid took charge as acting police chief for Balkh district a few days back.

Mujahid replaces his deceased father Col. Abdul Wadood Mujahid who served as the Balkh district police chief for 15 years until his demise four months back.

A number of Wolesi Jirga activists and politicians in Balkh province on Wednesday said such appointments created security problems.

They said security organs must be kept away from political, religious and ethnic issues.

But the provincial police headquarters said Ahmad Ser Mujahid was appointed as per demand of people.

Gul Rahman Hamdard, a lawmaker from Balkh province in the Wolesi Jirga, said security institutions the north zone had been under influence of powerful individuals since last two decades.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News the above mentioned issue was behind increasing insecurity and people paid a heavy price for that.

He said the people-government gap widened due to such recruitments. “The Balkh district police station was ruled by his father as commander for 15 years and now his son has replaced him.”

He said such decisions from the provincial police headquarters dealt a blow to the system, people and the nation.

He urged security organs to not allow political interference in their affairs.

Hamdard added, “When someone is appointed to a security post on the basis of ethnicity and nepotism, it is clear they will give priority to personal and ethnic interests instead of national interests.” He said government recruitments should be based on merit and talent.

However, Mohammad Afzal Hadid, the Provincial Council chairman, told Pajhwok that the appointment of the newly police chief for Balkh district would benefit the district security.

He said Ahmad Ser Mujahid had grown up in a military family and it might be the reason he was appointed as Balkh district police chief.

He said, “I admit he is too young, but I would also like to say that he is an educated person, is from a military family and has gained military experiences from his father.”

Ahmad Ser Mujahid has a number of talented military personnel with himself and they will help him during his duty, he added.

The provincial council chairman expressed hope that Mujahid would be effective for security of Balkh district and surrounding areas.

He said youths should be given opportunity to show their ability and serve the country.

However, a number of political figures and civil society activists held different views in this regard.

Professor Mohammad Wakil Matin, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif city and a political expert, told Pajhwok that insecurity was increasing on a daily basis due to negligence of security officials.

He said unprofessional appointments were behind the increased insecurity in Balkh.

“Being a district police chief is a huge responsibility, it must be given to an experienced military person.”

According to him, Taliban militants have been in control of most of Balkh areas and if the government did not pay further attention, the security situation would further worsen.

Matin said inheriting government seats was against the law and such appointments eroded people’s trust in government institutions and Taliban militants will take advantage of it.

He called on security ministers if wanted to see positive changes in the security sector, they should introduce reforms.

Najibullah Hashimi, a civil society activist in Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, accused the central administration of violating the law by making appointments based on relationships.

He said such appointments could be addressed if reforms were conducted on ministerial level.

He said, “The Balkh district issue is a small issue as ministers and deputy ministers are appointed based on political and party affiliations, thus reforms should be started from the top.”

He said the new Balkh district police chief should be given time to see how much was effective.

Meanwhile, the Balkh police headquarters also confirmed that Ahmad Ser Mujahid has been appointment as police chief after adjustment in his rank.

Provincial police Chief AdilShaAdil told Pajhwok that Ahmad SairMujahid has a bachelor degree in law and political science and has military experience.

Adil added that after repeated requests from tribal elders and influential people in Balkh district, the police leadership decided to appoint Mujahid as the district commander.

He said, “District police chief position is for colonel rank but Mujahid was appointed after the repeated demand from the people in this regard.”

He said Mujahid had worked with his father and had gained military experience from him.

In response to a question, he said: “Sometimes it is necessary to take into account the views of local people as it is not the first time such an appointment is made, we have seen that the Kandahar police chief was assassinated a few years ago and the government appointed his brother on his position.”

He said the police chief for Balkh district was serving in acting capacity for the time being and if the security situation did not improve, the government would replace him.

Pajhwok tried to have comment of Ahmad Mujahid but a contact could not be established.

pk/ma