Relatives of the two persons killed by bodyguards of the Western Zone Ulema Council chief on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against the council chief, Maulvi Khudadad Saleh.
Yesterday at about 8:30pm, a civilian car crashed into a vehicle carrying bodyguards of Saleh as part of his convoy, prompting the guards to open fire at the civilian car, killing two occupants.
The protestors, who carried coffins of the two civilians, chanted “Allah-u-Abar” and “death to Maulvi Khudadad” in front of the governor’s house.
One of the slain individuals’ father, Haji Maroof, told Pajhwok Afghan News Kudadad’s son and bodyguards had shot his son in the back.
“My son was alive, but they then shot him in the head. “If Khudadad is not guilty, why he is not at his home since yesterday?”
He said his son, Sohrab, had received four bullets and his brother in law, Fawad, three. The father urged the government to arrest Khudadad and punish him severely and warned they would not bury the deceased until justice was served in the case.
Another protesting person, Bashir Ahmad, said: “Until the government ensures justice, half of our youth would continue to die in suicide attacks and bombs and half in firing by bodyguards of government officials.”
Later Governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi joined the protest and promised that those involved in the incident would be arrested and brought to justice, urging the protesting people to bury the dead bodies. The governor said he had appointed a delegation to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, police chief Brig. Abdul Majeedzoy also assured the protesting people that the killers would be arrested and referred to the judicial organs.
Efforts at seeking comments from Khudadad could not succeed. Khudadad is a leading religious figure and has much influence and followers in Herat.