Protesters for Jawzjan governor resignation

JAWZJAN CITY: About 400 residents of the northern Jawzjan province Thursday in a protest rally urged Juma Khan Hamdard to quit his position as governor.

The locals accused Hamdard as inefficient, his links with Hezb-i-Islami, involvement in smuggling and weak management. Refuting the allegations, the governor said it was a hatched conspiracy against him. The marchers warned they would continue their protest until the governor had resigned from his office.

Mohammad Rasul, one of the protesters, told Pajhwok Afghan News: "We don't want the governor, he belongs to Hezb-i-Islami party and is also involved in drug-trafficking."

Ahmad Sameer, another protester, said they wanted the government should appoint an honest, qualified and efficient governor. "Hamdard has not solved any of our problem, we will continue to protest until government replaces him," he added.

In a brief chat with this news agency, he said:" It is all a plot against me, neither I am involved in smuggling, nor have any link with Hezb-i-Islami party, I was only its member during Jihad time, as everyone had membership of a party." He also said the number of the protesters were very small.