FARAH (SW): Dozens of Farah residents staged a protest today (Wednesday) in front of the provincial governor’s office and police headquarter of Farah and chanted slogans against the provincial governor and the police chief of Farah province.
However, when the police tried to use the water cannons to scatter the protesters, a number of protesters stormed and destroyed the water cannons’ car.
Following the incident, police fired at protesters, wounding two of them.
Protesters claimed that the local government of Farah has prevented some local elders and members of the families of victims of recent clashes in the province to participate in a meeting of the central government with local government officials regarding the insecurity issues in Farah province.
Qudratullah Farooqi, one of the protesters said that people are fed up with the hypocrisy of the government and can no longer tolerate losing their loved ones.
Jawad Tabish, another protester said they staged a peaceful protest against the increasing insecurity in Farah, however, when the crowds of people gathered in front of the police headquarter and provincial governor’s office, the police started firing and as a result, three protesters have been wounded.
Jamila Amini, a member of the Farah Provincial Council said that while the Taliban have almost control of the outskirts of the city, some of the local officials in the meetings with central government have described the city’s security situation to be very good.
Nasir Mehri, spokesperson for Governor of Farah said that the Kabul delegation has had separate meetings with civil society activists, elders, and security officials; however, he rejected the claim of Jamila Amini about Taliban’s hold in the close proximity of the city.
According to Mr. Mehri, Farah residents have staged the protests without the coordination with the police.
The protest was staged in Farah today (Wednesday) while the delegation from Kabul visited the province yesterday to discuss the security situation with local officials.
ENDS
