PAN, August 10, 2012

Thousands rally against Laghman governor

By Abdul Mueed Hashimi

(Photo: PAN)

Thousands of residents on Friday took to the streets against the governor of eastern Laghman province, demanding his immediate removal.

The protest rally was taken out from the main mosque in Mehtarlam, the provincial capital, after Friday prayers at about 2pm and lasted about an hour.

Mosque leader Qari Roohullah Fayyaz, also a former gubernatorial advisor and provincial council member, addressed the protestors.

In a hard-hitting speech, Fayyaz accused Governor Mohammad Iqbal Azizi of involvement in brazen corruption and failing to control insecurity in Laghman.

Deputy provincial council head, Gulzar Sangarwal, was also among the protestors who chanted slogans against the elective body.

Sangarwal blasted Azizi for the nose-diving security situation in the province, where four Afghan soldiers were beheaded two kilometres from the governor's office a week ago.

The public representative accused the governor of insulting Islam, and telling the prayer leader that Azan caused him a headache. He urged the president and parliament to dismiss the Azizi.

The governor's spokesman, Sarhadi Zwak, said everybody reserved the right to stage rallies, but Sangarwal and Fayyaz used the protestors to achieve their own objectives.

He claimed Sangarwal was involved in timber smuggling and a case against him had been referred to the attorney office. Similarly, he added, Qari Fayyaz had misappropriated donations to the mosque.

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