GARDEZ (PAN): Hundreds of people rallied in Gardez, the capital of southeastern Paktia province, against Governor Juma Khan Hamdard on SundayAround 300 individuals took part in the protest called by the Paktia Rescue Movement, organiser Mohammad Zahir Oryakhel told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said tribal elders, civil society members, youth representatives and residents took to the streets against slow-paced development projects in Paktia.

Oryakhel claimed Paktia had been deprived of its due share in big reconstruction projects over the past six years and its residents hoodwinked with false promises.

Corruption had hit an all-time high in government departments, thanks to the governor’s consistent absence from his office, he alleged, urging the president to remove Hamdard.
 If the central government did not replace the provincial chief executive, they would kick up a storm of protests across Paktia, Oryakhel warned.

Noor Ahmad Rekhtiawal, another member of the movement, said the governor had paid little heed to key projects, including highways, power dams and power supply from Kabul to the backward province.

Haji Khwani Jehani, a tribal elder, accused Hamdard of pursuing his business interests in the north and leaving the governor’s house to a handful of individuals.mud