Afghanistan Times
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AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Kabul-Gardez Highway remained closed for third consecutive day, as tens of residents of Paktia province staged protest against the recent decision of Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) to close its branch in Gardez.
The protestors demanded the agency to apologize and reopen the branch, or they will continue their protests.
Hundreds of vehicles are stranded at Tere Kandaw area.
Tribal elders, civil society activists, provincial council members and traders from the province have closed the highway. They said that they will not open the highway, unless the government addresses their demands.
Sardar Khan Malangzai, the chairman of Paktia provincial council, said that they went to Kabul to discuss the issue with officials, who argued the branch was closed due to lack of financial resources. “However, we know that it was closed for political reasons,” he alleged.
He also urged the government to dismiss Mohammad Qurban Haqjo, the chairman of AISA.
A number of civil society activists argued that closing offices is not the solution for budget deficit. “Closing the AISA branch in Paktia will create many problems for people. It is the duty of the government to provide services,” Said Gul Karim Sahar, a civil society activist.
