KABUL - Hundreds of residents rallied against administrative corruption and blocked the main Samkani-Janikhel road for several hours.

The protestors carried banners inscribed with anti-graft slogans and called for an end to the widespread corruption and punishment to government officials involved in the corrupt practices.

They accused the authorities of failing to implement public welfare projects over the past few years and demanded immediate construction of a 22 kilometer road between Samkani and Janikhel.

The protestors warned that if the government did not accept their demand, they would boycott the upcoming presidential and provincial councils’ elections slated for 5 April 2014.

One of the organizers of the protest, Haji Rasul Khan, blasted the government for holding out false promises over the years to build the road. He said the rulers were cheating people by making promises that were never kept.

Another protestor, Muhammad Karim said that corruption had reached its peak in all government departments and officials themselves prevented implementation of projects. As a result, he added, the distance between the government and people had increased.

The Director of Public Works, Enginer Abdullah Durrani said that an international organization, International Relief and Development (IRD) had promised to undertake the road project, which had been delayed for unknown reasons.

Source: (Awoshtoon Radio)