KABUL (SW) – Haneef Atmar, head of the ‘Peace and Moderation’ electoral team on Thursday blamed the government for situation in Balkh with its ‘politically motivated’ appointment of new police chief.
Addressing a press conference, he said the Arg (presidential palace) has taken an unnecessary decision of sending troops to Balkh. According to Atmar, the emerging situation is in the interest of the enemy, and enemies can use this situation to expand their activities. Hanif Atmar said there is no ethnic tension between the supporters of Ata Mohammad Noor and the security forces.
According to the leader of the Peace and Moderation team, their efforts to deescalate tensions in Balkh have been in vain. He said the government has claimed that it has not used the force, but the evidence proves this claim wrong. He called on the parties involved in Balkh to resort to restraint.
Atmar called on the government to change its decision and work through talks to resolve these tensions.
He asked the international community to urge the government that the security forces are to defend the people, not to confront the people. According to him, attempts have been made to remove the members of the Peace and Moderation team from government for a long time, and the attack on the ceremony marking anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari is also related to tensions in Balkh.
Atmar insisted that the current government is not in a position to hold free and fair elections, and its tenure would soon be over. At the end, he stated that he will use all legal options on the table if the tension continued in Balkh.
Today, Mazar-i Sharif witnessed intense tensions at the police headquarters and around it. These tensions flared up after the government introduced Mohammad Raqib Mobarez as the new police commander for the province. Supporters of the former governor, Atta Mohammad Noor, claim only he had the authority to make such appointment.
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