KABUL - Some Meshrano Jirga members on Tuesday said the president and the chief executive officer (CEO) should resign for their failure to form cabinet in three months.
President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah promised they would form cabinet in 45 days soon after they were inaugurated on Sept. 29, but failed to do so during that period.
Currently, all the ministries, independent directorates and provincial administrations are run by acting heads.
Some analysts say the issue of acting heads has resulted in increased insecurity, administrative corruption and other problems.
Senate member from southern Zabul province, Mohammad Daud Asas, told the general session that the security and economic situation was deteriorating with each passing day due to the acting officials.
Lashing out at the government for the delay in cabinet formation, he said: “They could not form cabinet in 100 days. On behalf of the Afghanistan people, I request them (the president and the CEO) to stand down.”
His colleague from eastern Kunar province, Mohammad Amin Safi, held a similar view. He said the president and the CEO had been unable to choose 30 persons from the country’s 30 million populations in three months.
“The government should not have been named national unity. They could not form the cabinet in 100 days, bringing shame to the unity.”
Safi said not forming the cabinet was behind all the country’s latest problems and the Afghans could no longer tolerate such irresponsible government, asking Ghani and Abdullah to resign.
Senator Arif Pashtun from southeastern Khost province said the president and the CEO should be given little more time to introduce cabinet nominees.
“During that little time, if they fail to introduce the cabinet, then they should come with respect and resign in public and acknowledge they cannot govern,” he remarked.
First deputy chairman Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, who presided over the session, said: “The delay in cabinet formation has many negative outcomes for the country. I request the government to send cabinet nominees to the lower house for a vote of confidence without further delay.”
A number of senators urged the president and the CEO to introduce their ministers-designate to parliament in order to end the issue of acting officials. (Pajhwok)