2 senior police officers suspended

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Two senior police officials have been suspended in northern Baghlan province for negligence in duty and committing fraud during Saturday’s elections, the authorities said on Sunday.

Police Chief Gen., Aminullah Amarkhel told Pajhwok Afghan News that Mudabbir Safi, the administration affairs head at Balkh police headquarters, and Col. Qudratullah, the police chief for Baghlan-i-Markazi district, had been suspended.

The Independent ELection Commission (IEC) should take step against seven provincial council candidates on charge of electoral fraud namely Abdul Wali, Raji, Shamsul Haq Barakzai, Mudir Sattar and Asadullah Shabyar, the police chief added.

He urged the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) to investigate charges against them   and introduce them to prosecutors.

The two police officials were suspended after 15 provincial council candidates protested in front of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) regional office in Pul-i-Khumri, the provincial capital, accusing the Baghlan-i-Markazi police chief of electoral fraud.         

mrh/ma