KABUL - Family members of the 31 travelers abducted more than a month ago along the Kabul-Kandahar highway, along with civil society supporters, gathered outside Parliament in Kabul on Monday to protest what they see as carelessness on the part of the government in handling the kidnappings.

The families and activists traveled from southern Ghazni province to demonstrate in front of Parliament. They demanded President Ashraf Ghani to break his silence and inform the families about what is being done to free their relatives.

"We object to the government's ignorance with regard to the hostage taking, because it institutionalizes the culture of hostage taking and have damaging consequences ahead," civil society activist Asif Sahar said on Monday.

Although virtually no details have been made public or verified, the 31 abductees, all of which are Hazara, have reportedly been transferred to the Khak-e-Afghan district of southern Zabul province.

Although the Afghan security forces launched a military operation in effort to rescue the hostages, it was ultimately successful. Attempts to negotiate the release of the hostages through tribal elders were also unsuccessful.

Still, some are hopeful for a negotiated release. "It is better that we follow our traditional way and establish frequent contacts with the armed opponents and hear their conditions," Zabul MP Abdul Qadir Qalatwal said.

Khuda Bakhsh is one of the hostages, and his wife Bano Qamar says that her husband was a street seller and the breadwinner of the family. Without an adult son, she has no one to work and provide for her household.

"He is a hostage, but his wife and children are also hostages; I have a four year old baby, and last night his uncle brought some fruits," Qamar said. "He felt that his father had returned when he woke up and ran toward his uncle's home, but he returned with crying eyes after he realized that his father hadn't returned," she said.

Some Zabul MPs have maintained that the hostages have been separated, some transferred to Urozgan and others to Ghazni province. (Tolonews)