Governor of Kapisa Province Faces Allegations for Illegal Land Allocation

The governor of Kapisa Province has been accused of violating judicial decisions; reports indicate that Ihsanullah Baryal has allocated 29 jeribs of public pasture land for construction purposes.

Allegations Against the Governor

Ihsanullah Baryal, the governor of Kapisa, is facing allegations for illegally handing over 29 jeribs of public pasture land for construction despite the caretaking government’s ban on the distribution of state lands. Documentation suggests that Baryal has transferred these lands in the Ashurkhail village to private developers unlawfully.

Background on the Lands

According to received documents, the previous Afghan government had declared 800 jeribs of land in this area as usurped. Among these, 29 jeribs were formally allocated to the Kapisa Agriculture Department to be used as public pasture. Administrative and judicial bodies, including the Commission for Land Grabbing Prevention and the Special Court, had previously confirmed the state ownership of this land, prohibiting any form of occupation or construction on it.

Community Response and Governor’s Reaction

Residents of Ashurkhail claim that the governor has authorized construction and even the building of a mosque on this public land, in direct contradiction to existing judicial orders. A member of the Commission for Land Grabbing Prevention in Kapisa confirmed that construction work on these lands had initially been halted, but the governor’s intervention led to its resumption.

Public Protests and Consequences

The villagers have organized protests, decrying the governor’s actions as a blatant violation of judicial decisions and a disregard for public rights in favor of local power brokers. They believe that this land is public property and should be utilized for the benefit of all community members.