Taliban Set Fire to Afghani Banknotes Allocated to Ghani’s Election Campaigns

The Taliban militant group has set fire to some Afghani banknotes allocated to election campaigns of President Ashraf Ghani in Nangarhar province, local officials said Tuesday.

A number of local health authorities told Ariana News that millions of Afghanis have been provided in cash to the provincial health employees to distribute it to female patients – who were being under treatment in health centers in Jalalabad City and other districts of the province.

According to the health authorities, the funds have been allocated by Rula Ghani’s office in exchange for having copies of Tazkira (National Identity Card) which could be used the election process.

“We have received this money through the president’s office and we have been told to distribute the cash to patients, but the Taliban have intervened,” said Dr. Malang, in-charge of a clinic in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province.

Nangarhar provincial council members, meanwhile, said that the money has been allocated for President Ghani’s election campaigns in the province.

“We have been witnessed that these monies were distributed at least in Khogyani district,” said Naser Khan Kamawal, a member of the council said.

Nasir Ahmad Durrani, head of Public Health Department in Nangarhar, meanwhile, confirmed that the funds have been provided by Rula Ghani’s office to be distributed to patients in the provincial hospitals.  

But in a preventative move, the Taliban have closed about 30 health centers which were under their control in the province, he said.

First Lady Rula Ghani’s office, however, rejected the report and said that they have not sent the money. 

Sources told Ariana News that some health centers have also been closed in Laghman province, but local officials yet to confirm or reject the issue.