Police arrest 16, reopen IEC office in Nangarhar

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) office in eastern Nangarhar province has reopened for staff and visitors, officials said on Tuesday.
On Monday, supporters of the Grand National Alliance closed down the IEC office. At least 16 protesters have been detained in connection with disrupting the panel’s work
Earlier, the political alliance claimed collecting one million documents from 33 provinces that showed the upcoming Wolesi Jirga elections were going to be rigged.
The protestors vowed they would not allow the election management body and government departments to function until measures to ensure fair elections were put in place.
Attaullah Khogyani, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the security forces — led by the police chief –removed the two protest camps and detained 16 protesters late on Monday night.
He said the IEC office had been reopened for officials and visitors. The provincial police chief Brig. Gen Ghulam Sanyee Stanikzai assured that the violators of the law would be dealt with sternly.
On the other hand, a credible security source revealed lawmaker Zahir Qadeer’s head bodyguard Mohammad Naseem was among the detainees. Pajhwok tried to contact Qadeer for comments but failed.