MAZAR-I-SHARIF - Lawmakers from northern Balkh province on Saturday set a 10-days ultimatum to the provincial government for improving the province security situation.
Some Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Council members told reporters here that the security situation of Mazar-i-Sharif has worsened and alleged the provincial government and police have failed to overcome incidents of insecurity.
They warned if crimes were not controlled in ten days, people would raise against the local government.
Lawmaker Gul Rahman Hamdard said that the streets of Mazar-i-Sharif had turned into centers of crimes, persecution, brutality and lawlessness. He said common people were approaching them and demanding security and elimination of crimes.
Hamdard said criminals and robbers walked freely in the city and nobody arrested them, adding that local authorities should be held answerable for the ongoing situation.
Another Wolesi Jirga Member Syed ZahirMasror said the security situation of Mazar-i-Sharif deteriorated with each passing day due to irresponsible behavior of local security officials. He said unless security officials took strict action, no one could control the growing crimes in the city.
“People are tired, in day-light the Kifayat Shopping Centre was looted and the robbers managed to escape. A private clinic which is situated a few steps from police station was robbed but no action was taken,” he said.
He demanded the Ministry of Interior should send a delegation to hear the views of Balkh residents regarding the security situation.
Balkh Provincial Council Head Afzal Hadid said the security situation had worsened and was no more tolerable.
He said Balkh Wolesi Jirga members and Provincial Council members had decided to jointly monitor the security situation and ask the provincial government and the centre to take effective steps for the betterment of security situation in the province.
Governor Spokesperson MunirFarhad acknowledged the claims of lawmakers regarding the security situation of Balkh and added that the lawmakers should cooperate with the local government instead of criticism.
He claimed the provincial government was working day and night to improve the security situation so that people could comfortably live. (Pajhwok)