Hundreds of supporters of the Islamic National Movement of Afghanistan on Monday protested in Takhar province and closed a number of government departments, including the provincial governor’s office.
The protesters warned if government does not free Nizamuddin Qaisari, police chief of Qaisar district in Faryab and a close aide to Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, the exiled First Vice President, and allow Dostum to return from Turkey they will embark on civil unrest.
The protesters also called for President Ashraf Ghani to resign.
“These all are because of the president’s poor management abilities and his inability to lead the country,” Khair Mohammad, a protester said.
“(President) come and respond to the Afghan people. Come and convince them. When you cannot convince them, you should resign,” Hamidullah, another protester said.
In the meantime, supporters of Dostum on Monday also carried out demonstrations in reaction to Qaisari’s arrest and the Dostum issue in Kabul, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Jawzjan, Samangan and Balkh provinces.
The protesters in Balkh asked government to identify and prosecute soldiers who assaulted Qaisari’s men at the time of their arrest. In Balkh women also came out on the streets in protest over Qaisari’s arrest.
“If government dose not respond to protesters demands immediately, it is possible that people will start civil unrest,” a protester said.
Dostum’s supporters however continued their demonstrations despite Ghani’s announcement on Sunday that Dostum might return to Afghanistan in the near future.
Speaking at a press conference at the Presidential Palace, Ghani said: "General Dostum's return is very possible. This issue has a legal aspect and the attorney general will investigate it.”
Local Economy Affected
The ongoing protests have meanwhile had a serious impact on the local economy. Twelve days ago Dostum’s supporters closed the road to Aqina Port in Andkhoy district in Faryab province. This key trade route between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan remains closed.
Aqina is one of the busiest trade ports in Afghanistan and much of Afghanistan’s oil and fuel comes in through this port as does a large quantity of food.
However, protesters established a sit-in protest in the district and refuse to allow trucks and oil tankers to enter the country.
Afghan traders said hundreds of trucks carrying wheat, food and other goods and oil tankers are stopped at the port and waiting for the road to reopen.
The traders said they will suffer heavy financial losses if government does not take immediate action to reopen the road.
“We have been waiting here for 12 days, because the road is closed,” Mohammad Ismail, a trader said.
“The road is closed and the trucks and the trains have stopped,” Mohammad Shakir, another trader said.
Dostum supporters however said they won’t reopen the port unless government addresses their demands which is the return of Dostum to Afghanistan and the release of Qaisari from detention.
“If President Ghani is responsible he should respond to us. If he addresses our demands, we will open the route, otherwise the port will remain closed forever,” Ziaullah, a protester said.
“We will remain in our tent until our demands are met by government,” Hamidullah, another protester said.
Bashir Ahmad Tayyanj, spokesman for the Islamic National Movement of Afghanistan said they will continue their protests in the north and north-eastern parts of the country until their demands are met by the central government.
“You know that a few provincial offices of the election commission and a few ports which are the main economic stream of government are closed. In these areas we have the abilityto put pressure on government,” said Tayyanj.