KABUL - A number of civil society activists and family members of 31 abducted Hazara men staged a protest in front of the 1st Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostam’s residence in the capital Kabul and demanded early recovery of captives.

The protesters chanted: “We want justice and immediate release of kidnapped men. The unity government should expedite efforts to release abductees from the militants’ captivity.”

They demanded the 1st voice president should take personal interests to help release the men.

Earlier, masked gunmen abducted 31 passengers travelling by a bus on the Kabul-Kandahar highway in the Shajoy district of southern Zabul province. The men were seized in Pash Kandi area on the road between western Herat province and central capital Kabul, Mohammad Ullah Ahmadi, the district police chief had said.

But, Haji Mohammad Muhaqiq, 2nd deputy to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), had claimed two former Taliban commanders Mullah Mansur Dadullah and Mullah Abdullah Kakar known as Haqmal had hands in the kidnapping of the passengers. The two commanders were now allied with Islamic State (IS).

Interior Ministry said the latest kidnapping incident happened to mount pressure on unity government and sabotage peace and stability of the country. (Pajhwok)