Protests in Faryab: Daud Laghmani should leave Faryab.
Protests entered the eighth day in Faryab province on Saturday (22May) as hundreds of people rallied against the appointment of the new governor.
In the latest sign of escalating tensions, protestors on Saturday took to the streets in Maimana city in front of 209 Shaheen Army Corps where a week ago Ashraf Ghani-backed governor Mohammad Daud Laghmani started his job as new governor for the province. They asked Daud Laghmani to leave Faryab.
Some of the protesters who had shroud-like outfits warned the army corps commander of severe public outrage if he does not ask the newly appointed governor to leave the province.
Mohammad Zahir Aniq, a member of the Supreme Youth Council and a local journalist in Faryab, said Saturday’s protests were more widespread and that protesters had gathered for the first time at the door of the First Brigade of the 209th Shaheen Corps. According to him, the protesters warned that if the new governor of Faryab did not leave the city of Maimana, the government would be responsible for “behaviors outside the peaceful demonstrations and clashes with the army brigade.”
According to Mr. Aniq, the area around the Faryab provincial headquarters is controlled by protesters, and a sit-in tent has been set up, one for women and one for men.
Meanwhile, Ehsan Niroo, spokesman for the Junbish party led by Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, said that no talks had been held to resolve the Faryab issue. According to him, people in other provinces are also preparing for demonstrations, and if the government does not comply with the protesters’ demands, the government will be responsible for the next steps.
The tensions erupted in Faryab province when President Ghani appointed Laghmani as new governor for the province. Earlier, protests were held in at least four northern and northeastern provinces.
