Ghor residents protest against insecurity

FIROZKOH (Pajhwok): Hundreds of residents of western Ghor province once again took to the streets on Saturday to protest what they said rising insecurity in the province, demanding removal of the governor.

The protestors also warned of ousting the provincial governor on their own if their demands were not met.

The residents have already been staging a sit-in protest over the past 27 days in front of the governor’s office. They have closed the eastern gate of the provincial authority, demanding removal of the governor.

However, four days after the closure of the eastern gate, a number of supporters of the governor opened the gate and asked the governor to continue with his service.

The pro-governor protestors have also set up a tent in front of western gate of the governor’s house, announcing their support for the governor.

Today hundreds of Ghor residents took to streets of Firozkoh city, the provincial capital and warned if their demands were not met, they would conduct violent protests.

Mohammad Hassan Hakimi, a civil society activist and a protestor, said they have been protesting for the last 27 days and were demanding the governor’s removal, however, officials are not taking any steps and Ghor residents are fed up with increasing insecurity.

“If the government does not meet our demands then we would personally remove the governor,” he added.

Abdul Zahir, a resident of Firzkoh city said the governor was incapable of management and the security is deteriorating day by day.

Pajhwok Afghan News tried to take the governor’s viewpoint regarding the matter but failed to establish any contact.

Earlier, the governor in a press conference had said members of National Council were involved in conspiring against him and launching such protests.

Ghor is located in western Afghanistan; it is a mountainous province with majority of poor residents. Mostly these people protest because of poverty.

Hr/ma