KABUL - First Vice President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum on Friday asked his supports to stop staging more rallies against the removal of his portrait and allowed the government to investigate the issue.
One person was killed and four others were wounded after rival protestors met in a square and clashed in northwestern Faryab province on Thursday, hospital sources said. Similar protest held in Sar-i-Pul, Balkh and Jawzjan provinces after the picture of Dotum was brought down by unknown persons during Nawroz celebrations in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Supporters of Dostum and Balkh Governor Atta Mohammad Noor took to the streets in Maimana, Faryab’s capital, and held rallies which turned violent eventually.
Bashir Ahmad Tainj, member of Wolesi Jirga and Dostum led Jumbish-i-Islami Party, read out the message of first vice president regarding recent tensions developed among the supporters of him and Noor’s.
“During my trip out of the country I came to know that some of my young supports took to the streets and stage peaceful protest against individuals who brought down my portrait in Mazar-i-Shairf. I also noted that due to some miscreant the peaceful protest turned violent,” he said.
According to Dostum the protesters expected the administration of Balkh province to bring the culprits involved in this action to the justice but no action was taken in this regard which led to more protests by his supporters.
Dostum in his message asked his supporters to stop staging more protest, although it was the right of every citizen, and give a chance to the provincial and central government to conduct its investigation against individuals who brought down the portrait.
reacting to violent clashes between supporters of Abdul Rashid Dostum and Atta Mohammad Noor, President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday said protests were people’s right, but those restoring to violence would be dealt with sternly.
In a statement from the Presidential Palace, President Ghani insisted such violent acts were unacceptable and stressed “completely peaceful protest demonstrations” in line with the Constitution and said those restoring to violence were violating the Constitution.
The president said the armed clash involving illegal armed men during the protest was clear violation of the country’s laws. He said the government not only wanted an end to the violence but it had directed security forces to deal with sternly with elements trying to take the law into their hands. (Pajhwok)