Election Nominee Killed in Northeastern Afghanistan

KABUL: (MEP) – A nominee for next year’s provincial council (PC) elections was gunned down by unknown attackers in the Nijrab district of northeastern Kapisa province in Afghanistan, police said on Saturday.

Abdul Qadir, a former commander of the Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan, was riding a motorcycle along with his daughter on Friday evening when unknown gunmen opened fire at them near the district centre, deputy provincial police chief Col. Abdul Jalil Shamal said.

He said Qadir was on his way home when came under attack in the Gohmand area. He was shot four times, but her 15-year-old daughter stayed unharmed, the official said. The attackers had fled, but police have launched a manhunt for them.

Abdul Qadir was a resident of the Abshar village in Ghaus Dara area. Ghulam Hazrat, who lives in the village, said Qadir was jihadi commander associated with the HIA during the jihad against the Soviets. He said Qadir had no personal enmity and area people were happy with him. There has been no claim of responsibility for the gun attack that claimed Qadir’s life.