BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): Civil society activists and residents of central Bamyan province on Sunday rallied against the killing innocent people in violent incidents and demanded strict security on highways.
The protestors, condemning last week’s killing of eight people, including four women, in the Gilan district of southern Ghazni province, warned the government of civil disobedience if it failed to ensure security.  
Jawad Sadiq, a civil society activist, said militants had killed several passengers in the last few years on the roads to Bamyan province in Ghorband valley and Jalrez district. He asked the government to set up new check-posts in dangerous areas.
Hussain Dad Ahmadi, the Bamyan civil society head, said: “The purpose of our rally was to denounce the activity of rebels, who have been killing innocent civilians on roads, on bazaars and markets.”
Abdul Khaliq, another civil society activist, said it was the government’s duty to ensure the safety of its citizens. The national unity government has pledged to security of highways.
Earlier, the UN had blamed Taliban, Haqqani Network and other insurgent groups for 75% of civilian causalities in the war-torn country. But the Taliban rejected the UN report as unilateral and biased.
nh/mud