Protest in Faryab continues into 4th day

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Continuing their protest for a fourth day on Friday, the residents of northern Faryab province asked the government to pave the ground for Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum’s return and release his close aide.

Afghan commando forces have arrested a militia leader associated with Dostum-led Junbishi Milli party, Nizamuddin Qaisari, after he threatened to kill people during a provincial security meeting.

Protests emerged in Faryab, Jawzjan, Sar-i-Pul and Balkh provinces after the detention of Qaisari, who is shifted to Kabul for interrogation.

The protest in Maimana, Faryab’s capital, turned violent on Wednesday when security forces retaliated with firing to stone-throwing protestors, killing one and injuring six others.

The angry protestors then torched government vehicles and parts of the governor’s house.

The protest in Maimana continued despite a decision reached with a high level delegation from Kabul that the protests would be called off until security threats in the province were removed.

The delegation from Kabul held talks with tribal elders, religious scholars and civil society activists.

Hundreds of people marched in the city for a fourth day in a row, demanding the return of Dostum from Turkey and release of Qaisari.

Junbish party provincial chief Atta Mohammad Faizi said President Ashraf Ghani reached the Presidential Palace on votes from Dostum supporters.

But the president then started removing national personalities and hatching conspiracies against, he said.

Faizi warned their protest would continue until their leader Gen. Dostum returns to the country.

Another protestor, Bashir Yaqubi, said: “Security forces instead of having court orders invited Nizamuddin Qaisari to a meeting and arrested him.”

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