FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): Hundreds of passengers have been trapped as supporters of a Wolesi Jirga candidate kept closed a major highway in northeastern Badakhshan province for a fifth day in a row on Saturday.
Five days ago, supporters of a candidate, Safar Mohammad Mubariz, closed the Faizabad-Takhar highway after the candidate could not find his way to the lower house of parliament in the initial results.
The road blockade has landed passengers in trouble. Syed Hashim, a resident of old Faizabad city, said he wanted to go to Takhar province, but supporters of the candidate, laced with spades and pick axes and weapons, were not allowing anyone to travel on the road.
“The protestors have installed heavy weapons on mountain peaks and those want to travel on the road are beaten and forced to return,” he said.
He said hundreds of passengers, including women, children and elderly people, remained stranded over the past five days and they had been without food and other facilities because all restaurants and hotels were also shut.
He warned if the road was not reopened soon, ailing people, children and elderly people among the stranded individuals could die of cold and starvation.
Provincial council member Ahmad Javed Mujaddedi said the protestors were terrifying people. He said it was not protest, but a rebellion against the government.
The provincial government has sent a delegation comprised of officials and elders to negotiate with the protestors, but the highway remains closed.