Bamyan Elders Call for Inclusion of Shia Cadres in Government Institutions

A number of religious scholars and tribal elders in Bamyan Province, during a meeting, once again declared their support for the country’s ruling system and reaffirmed their full cooperation with the Islamic Emirate.

Alongside expressing support for the government, the scholars and elders also raised several demands. According to them, the government should take Shia scientific and professional cadres into account in the implementation of major national projects as well as in the recruitment of human resources within government institutions.

Sayed Nasrullah Waizi, Head of the Council of Scholars in Bamyan, said: “The rights that citizens have over an Islamic system and its rulers are compassion, goodwill, and care rights that every government must uphold toward its people. A compassionate and just approach by the government toward the people is their first and most fundamental right.”

Mohammad Amir Qasemi Shahi, a cultural activist, said: “We demand that just as other ethnic groups have ministers and governors, we too should be able to hold such positions and serve alongside you for the progress and stability of the country. Since foreign countries make use of our educated youth, we expect our compatriots to understand us and benefit from our capabilities for the country’s development.”

Meanwhile, the Governor of Bamyan assured that the raised issues would be addressed and emphasized the importance of maintaining unity among the country’s ethnic groups and safeguarding the Islamic system.

Gul Haidar Shafaq, Governor of Bamyan, said: “In the Islamic Emirate, there is no place for hostility or ethnic, sectarian, or linguistic discrimination, and we will not allow anyone to sow discord between us in the name of region, language, or ethnicity.”

Respect for Shia religious beliefs and rituals, the recruitment of Shia specialists and professional cadres in government institutions, political participation, and the implementation of development projects in Bamyan using national revenue and income from the province’s mines were among the key demands raised with local officials during the meeting.