Uruzgan council seeks apology from police

TIRINKOT (PAN): Uruzgan provincial council members said on Monday they would not return to work until officials at the police headquarters tendered an apology.

Nearly a month ago, one of the public representatives was detained for three hours on the charge of using abusive language against the crime branch chief.

The office has since been closed as a mark of protest. The council chief, Amanullah Hotaki, told Pajhwok Afghan News they would not resume until the police apologised for their act.

He accused police of failing to provide security to residents, saying gunmen shot dead the son of a provincial council member few days ago. A guard of Marjana Kochi’s son was also killed.

The deputy head of the council, Jan Mohammad Popal, called for punishing the police officials involved in harassing their colleague. “If we cannot fight for our own rights, how can we protect people’s rights?”

Marjana Kochi alleged no step had so far been taken against the killers of her son. Police had failed to do their duty, she said.

But police chief, Col. Fazl Ahmad Sherzad, said they had sent 60 policemen to recover the body of Kochi’s son. He said Kuchi had told police the murder was a result of their personal enmity.

Thirty policemen had been assigned with providing security to council members, the police chief explained. Sherzad said the police dispute with the council had already been resolved three weeks.

He said the council deputy head used abusive language against police officers, but they released him in a show of respect to the council.

Governor Mohammad Omar Sherzad also said the dispute had been resolved. He blamed the council members for creating anarchy in the province.

ma/mud

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