President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday said that the assassination of Kandahar police commander Gen Abdul Raziq was planned in Pakistan and asked Islamabad to handover those responsible in order for Afghanistan to insure justice prevails.

“I want to say that this conspiracy was plotted in Pakistan. So Pakistan should give us the criminals so that we can bring them to justice,” said Ghani.

During a trip to the southern province of Kandahar on Tuesday, Ghani met with the family of the deceased commander – including Raziq’s mother.

He told them that his administration strongly values the security and stability of Kandahar province.

Ghani also honored the slain commander with the title of Champion of Afghanistan’s Freedom.

But Kandahar residents have criticized government leaders for going to Kandahar “too late” – and for only now coming to pay their respects to the bereaved family.

“He (general Abdul Raziq) sacrificed himself for the country, the president or the CEO should have come here before,” said a resident of Kandahar Ahmad Saber.

“The president came today, no meetings were held and he returned,” added another resident Taimoor Shah.

Heavy security measures were put in place following the killing of Abdul Raziq but residents say that businesses have suffered since their police chief’s death.

“Over the past five or six days, businesses close at 12:00 pm, it was not like this during general Abdul Raziq’s time,” said a businessman in Kandahar Amanuallah.

Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq Achakzai, commonly known as Gen. Raziq, was gunned down in an attack on Thursday afternoon at the Kandahar governor’s compound.

At only 39, Raziq had made his mark across the country and was seen as a giant presence in the south. He was a fierce patriot and was committed to stamping out terrorism.

Born in 1979 in Kandahar province, he was raised in Spin Boldak district. Raziq had three wives and many children.

Pakistan Embassy in Kabul condemned the Kandahar attack in a statement hours after the incident.

Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that it rejects the claims regarding Kandahar attack.

“Pakistan rejects baseless and unfounded allegations regarding the latest Kandahar attacks. No hard evidence or intelligence related information has been shared to date with Pakistan to substantiate such claims,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.