Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Torkham Mayor Sacked over Embezzlement Charges

Torkham Mayor Sacked over Embezzlement Charges

JALALABAD - The mayor for Torkham Township in eastern Nangarhar province has been dismissed and referred to judicial organs over corruption and embezzlement charges, an official said on Sunday.
In compliance with orders from higher authorities, Hamidullah was sacked on the charges of being involved in illegal matters and introduced to judicial organs, Nangarhar governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He said the newly-appointed governor, Mohammad Gulab Mangal, on the day one of taking charge identified the fight against corruption as his top priority.
Meanwhile, another government source said former governor Salim Khan Kunduzi had initiated steps to fire the Torkham mayor during his last days in office.
He said the mayor had been accused of selling government lands, allowing construction of private residences on municipality areas, embezzlement of municipality’s budget and trying to prevent the construction of a big terminal in Torkham by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
He said the mayor was fired following an investigation conducted by the National Security Council.
The Nangarhar appellant court judge, Abdul Ahad Haidari, said nothing about the mayor but claimed arresting 11 individuals over allegedly taking bribe in Torkham. 
He said four of the detained officials worked at customs department, three at commissary, two at municipality and two at the Ministry of Public Works.
The sacked Torkham Mayor Hamidullah wrote on his Facebook wall that the decision of sacking him was acceptable to him.
He said some persons had given wrong information to the authorities but the truth would soon become known. (Pajhwok)