(MENAFN - Pajhwok Afghan News) JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Two senior officials of the Torkham port in eastern Nangarhar province have been suspended in compliance with presidential orders, the governor's spokesman said on Friday.

Attaullah Khogyani told Pajhwok Afghan News the Torkham commissar and his deputy had been placed on suspension and the main truck scale closed due to corruption.

President Ashraf Ghani has ordered the launch of a determined crackdown in on graft Nangarhar, he said, adding Commissar Qaseem Shinwari and his deputy were suspended on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, four individuals were arrested at the dry port on corruption charges. Investigators from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) arrested the individuals.

Dr. Lal Mohammad Durrani, deputy head of the provincial council, says whenever an investigative team comes to Torkham, some officials tried to strike a deal with them.

When the investigators refused to cooperate, the men violently responded and even fired at them, he alleged, saying a team of the Provincial Council was attacked earlier this month.

Torkham Commissar Qaseem Shinwari and border police commander in the eastern zone could not be reached for comments.

nh/mud

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