Pajhwok10/10/2012By Bashir Ahmad Naadem[Printer Friendly Version] KANDAHAR - Some Imams—prayer leaders—are encouraging people to wage a jihad (holy war) against the government in southern Kandahar province, an official alleged on Wednesday. The allegation came at a meeting, attended by Senate Defence Commission members, government officials, provincial council members and district chiefs. Dand district chief, Ahmadullah Nazak, told the meeting on the security situation in the provincial capital: "I have expelled about 30 prayer leaders who came from Pakistan’s Quetta province." Some clerics in the district did not have identity cards, he said, adding: “I met a prayer leader who was unknown even to residents of the area where he led prayers." The administrative head of the Taliban-infested Zherai district, Niaz Mohammad Sarhadi, said: "Mullah Omer, Mullah Rabbani, Mullah Obaidullah, Mutasim Agha Jan and other rebel leaders are residents of this town." In night letters distributed in the district, the insurgents had warned of targeting members of the NATO-funded Afghan Local Police, he said, urging government to equip the force. Calling narcotics a big challenge, he said a delegation of Taliban’s Quetta Shura -- led by Jabbar Agha -- recently visited Panjwai and Maiwand districts, where they motivated people to grow poppies. The participants urged the Senate delegation to convey their problems to senior officials in Kabul and convince them into equipping security forces in Kandahar.
