Hairatan township: Protest staged against security personnel

MAZAR-I-SHRIF (Pajhwok): A number of elders from the Turkmen tribe claimed on Thursday the security personnel in the Hairatan Port township in northern Balkh province had been attempting to grab their properties.

The elders staged a protest and closed the Hairatan-Mazar highway for hours. They accused the Hairatan port township’s owner and police chief of trying to seize their lands.

However, the police chief rejected their allegation as baseless, saying the land they had been trying to retake from grabbers belonged to the government. Orders have been from the provincial police headquarters.

But Haji Abdul Samad, a protestor, told Pajhwok Afghan News people were tired of ongoing operation. A portion of the land was their property but Mohammad Shafi, police chief, and Qari Baee Jan, the township, were out to grab it.

He warned if their demand was not met, they would continue with their demonstrations.

Azizullah, another protestor, said the government had to listen to their voice to resolve the issue. Other protestors held similar views and urged the government to address their problem at the earliest possible.