MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): A senior civil society activist in northern Balkh province has survived an attempt on his life by unknown gunmen, sources said on Friday.
The Balkh Civil Society Groups leader and journalist faculty dean in Balkh University, Syed Abdul Hamid Safwat, came under attack from unknown assailants, but survived, said a fellow activist, Najib Pikan.
He said Safwat was an academician, a decent person and member of the Balkh civil society and had always expressed his thoughts fearlessly about injustices.
Pikan said it was wrong to believe Sifwat was attacked by robbers because the attackers wanted to behead him.
“The country’s enemies want to silence such voices, but they will never succeed. They know we are fearless and will continue out activities more vigorously.”
Safwat told Pajhwok Afghan News that three gunmen attacked him in the limits of the eighth police district of Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, last night at about 7pm.
He said one of the attackers hit him in the head with his pistol and the others took away his two laptop computers, mobile phone and important documents from his car.
He said soon after the incident security forces reached the site and rushed him to hospital for treatment.
Social media users meanwhile criticized lack of attention to the security situation by the authorities concerned and demanded serious investigation into the attack on Safwat.
Pajhwok tried to seek comment from local officials, but did not succeed.
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