Zahak laid to rest in Bamyan

BAMYAN CITY (PAN, was laid to rest near the air port in the provincial capital Wednesday.

Zahak’s body found in the Qamchaq area of Siah Gird district in central Parwan province on Tuesday, days after being seized by unidentified gunmen on his way to Bamyan City from Siah Gird.

Thousands of people, including government officials, parliamentarians, relatives and residents, participated in his funeral ceremony.

Wolesi Jirga Second Deputy Secretary Ahmad Behzad condemned the murder and criticised the government for calling the perpetrators brothers. “They kill us and are then called our brothers. We don’t accept mere condolence messages, but concrete counter-terrorism steps.”

No terrorist group had been punished yet, he said, adding the death of Zahak was linked to high-profile killings of the Kunduz governor, senior police commander Gen. Daud.

He insisted on an anti-Taliban called and called them killers. “But President Karzai says Taliban are our brothers if they cut ties with Al Qaeda, quit war and join the peace process.”

Qurban Ali Irfani, an MP from Kabul, said: “The policy of the enemy is to kill jihadi figures. We should be careful and not let them harm us and disrupt security and democracy. Our government’s stance on terrorism should be clear.”

Farishta, a daughter of Zahak, said that her father’s death would not affect anyone’s morale. The eighth grade student appealed to the people not to forget “this painful” incident. She asked the government to punish her father’s murderers.

Zahak would always serve his people, said Governor Habiba Sorabi. She asked the central government to increase highway security to avoid future attacks on government officials.

Dozens of women participated in the burial, standing in a line away from men. The main market in city was closed for two days because of the funeral.

myn/mud