On Monday, Walosi Jirga (lower house of the parliament) sacked Mujtaba Patang, Minister of Interior. Speaker of the house, Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, announcing his dismal said, “He’s lost the vote of confidence and I on behalf of the Wolesi Jirga request the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to introduce another individual to the parliament for a vote of confidence.”
Patang a police by career has also served as deputy minister of interior. He was appointed as minister less than a year ago when his predecessor Bismillah Mohammadi was dismissed in August 2012 by the parliament, allegedly for failing to stop a Taliban resurgence and cross-border shelling from Pakistan. A month later, Mohammadi gained vote of confidence from the same parliament and became Afghanistan’s minister of defense which raised critical questions over the independency of and transparency in the parliament. Several MPs have been accused of being involved in crimes such as murder, land grabbing, smuggling, nepotism etc.
The MPs have been summoning ministers of various ministers over the past few years. However, political analysts think the MPs are using this technique as a tool to pressurize ministers who do not favor their personal interests. Speaking to reporters in Kabul on the same day when the Mr. Patang was summoned by the parliament, Sadiq Saddiqi speaker of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) accused the parliamentarians of meddling into the internal affairs of the ministry. He said, “Most of the working of time of the minister is spent on responding the wants of the MPs. Currently 15,200 applications from MPs, most of which are related to personal issues are pending with MoI.” It is believed that the MPs have been pressurizing the minister for appointment of their friends and relatives for various positions in the ministry and its provincial offices.
The parliament has been wasting time in summoning and dismissing ministers. Interpellation in Afghanistan has been futile as there has always been doubt over the intention of the parliamentarians. A minister with greater influences among the parliamentarians has always gained vote of confidence from the parliament. Influence is crucial, not qualification. Also, ministers sacked by the parliament have been re-appointed by President Hamid Karzai as acting ministers and the same is expected for Mujtaba Patang. He might remain as acting minister of interior until President Karzai’s term ends next year.