Logar ALP personnel without pay for 7 months

PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): A number of Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel in central Logar province complain they have not been paid salaries over the past seven months, causing them financial problems.

Syed Ibrahim, an ALP employee in Gul Negar area, told Pajhwok Afghan News the government had not paid his monthly salary despite being in the front line against terrorism and militancy.

“We have a strange government. We have been fighting for it, but received no salaries over the past seven months. Our families are in financial problems and we are forced us to make our voice heard,” he grumbled.

Ajab Khan, an ALP commander based in Baraki Barak district, told Pajhwok they had received no salaries and monthly privilege for the past seven months.

“About 20 policemen are manning the check-post under my supervision. All of us have families to support, but we have a very insensitive government. Our children go to bed hungry, because we have not been paid for eight months,” he said.

The policemen, concerned at the plight and problems of their families, warned of standing down if they were not paid soon.

Meanwhile, provincial council member Syed Qaribullah Sadat said they were aware of ALP staffers’ predicament.

The public representative said: “We know they have not been paid salaries for seven months. The issue should be addressed because the ALP men have been playing a key role in maintaining Logar’s security.”

Sadat vowed to once again share the issue, given its urgency and importance, with the authorities concerned.

Police spokesman Shahpur Ahmadzai confirmed about 70 percent of ALP employees had not been provided with salaries in the province.

He added the Ministry of Interior had brought some basic changes to the ALP, resulting in the delay of salary payment. Ahmadzai said the issues had been shared with higher-ups.

sa/mud

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