PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The blockage of the Kabul-North highway in northern Baghlan province by supporters of a losing Wolesi Jirga candidate has created a great inconvenience for commuters and patients.
The highway has been closed by the protestors since Friday. The protest emerged after the Independent Election Commission (IEC) unveiled the final results of Wolesi Jirga elections of some provinces including Baghlan province on last Thursday night.
Hundreds supporters of failed Wolesi Jirga candidate Mahboobullah Ghafari not only rejected the final results but have since closed the Kabul-north highway against traffic in Pul-i-Khumri. They have been demanding the release of Ghafari from jail and his inclusion in the final list of winners.
Zahir Khan, a resident of Markz-i-Baghlan district, told Pajhwok Afghan News he wanted to take his ailing mother to hospital but due to the highway closure he could not do so.
The ailing women said she could not walk and the road block had created problems for other people.
Meanwhile, a passenger from Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif, Kaka Khamosh, said the closure of highway had faced passengers with many issues.
He said, “I walked for an hour in Khenjan district yesterday and today I walked for two hours in Pul-i-Khumri to reach Mazar-i-Sharif bus stand, but it seems so hard.”
He said common people lacked money to afford bus fare but he saw the protestors receiving kabab.
A number of other passengers and common people held similar views and urged the government to reopen the highway.
On the other hand, Haroon, an organizer of the protest, told Pajhwok that yesterday a government delegation visited them but their talks reached no agreement.
He said their four members had gone to Kabul to meet CEO Dr. Abdullah and they were yet to return.
Nearly a month back, security forces arrested former provincial council members and Wolesi Jirga election runner Mahboobulah Ghafari in Kabul.
Meanwhile, Mahmood Haqmal, the governor’s spokesman, efforts were underway to reopen the highway for traffic soon.
pk/ma