General Faqir Jowzjani, the Police Chief of Jowzjan province, said Tuesday that Illegal Armed Groups (IAGs) were causing major security threats in the area, and suggested that things got worse when General Abdul Rashid Dostum, the First Vice Presidential candidate of Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in the 2014 Presidential elections, was Chief of Army Staff.
The Police Chief claimed that government officials were involved in weapons distribution, but he refused to provide any names.
He reported that Qosh Tapa and Darz Ab Districts were under the biggest security threats in the province.
"Illegal weapons have been distributed in some districts and villages in the province, but we will find a solution to the issue or register them within the police department," Faqir Jowzjani said. "The weapons were distributed during the days when General Dostom was serving as Chief of Army Staff."
Meanwhile, Hezb-e-Junbesh-i-Milli Afghanistan led by General Dostom has rejected the claims.
"We strongly reject that report that Jawozjan has became one of the most insecure provinces in recent times," said Bashir Ahmad Tayyanj, the spokesman of Hezb-e-Junbesh-i-Milli Afghanistan.
Dostum came under fire back in September when he filed his nomination for the elections, despite being having the reputation in many Afghan communities and abroad for having been involved in human rights abuses and war crimes during the 1990s civil war.
Dostum issued a public apology for his misdeeds all those years ago, which was received with a mix of modest approval and strong condemnation.
Faqir Jowzjani said that local police forces are on full alert and focusing on providing security for the elections in April. He admitted that that at least nine polling stations remained under serious security threat.