Paktia protestors ask govt to explain murder of 2 locals

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): A large number of residents of Ahmadabad district of southeastern Paktia province on Wednesday protested against the killing of two local people by security forces, asking the government to explain the murder.

The protestors brought corpses of the slain people to the governor’s house and shut the Gardez-Kabul highway against traffic.

The protestors said the two individuals were killed in Gharak area of Ahmadabad district on Tuesday night without having committed any crimes.

Seyalbat, a brother of the victims, said that Afghan security forces raided his house and killed his two brothers last night.

He said one of his brothers was a teacher and the second a student of Paktia University.

“Please prove that they were Taliban, Daesh or involved in other crimes; my brothers were innocent, these are their teaching and university documents. These are his children, why they did it to us? For how long we will be killed innocently? Why?” he said.

Khan Gul, a neighbour of Seyalbat said that both the men were innocent, criticizing the local administration for not responding to the public demand for explanation of the incident.

“This incident can never be justified, they left orphans behind. All acts of the government should be accurate and fair. I call this act a crime,” he said.

Haji Shinwari, a tribal elder from Ahmadabad district, criticized the government for kangaroo actions and said criminals should be punished based on court rules.

“No human is immune to mistakes and crimes, if in case a person is accused or is a criminal, the government can take him or her to courts and then punish them. This act is a crime,” he added.

Special Police Unit in a statement said they destroyed five narcotics producing factories and 40 tons of drugs in Ahmadabad district on Tuesday night.

The unit said two people were also killed during a combat in the area. The statement rejected the claims of the protestors as a lie.

On the other hand, Paktia governor Mohammad Halim Fidai endorsed police statements and said a commission had been tasked to investigate the incident.

Mds/ma