KABUL - The Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Saturday approved all 16 cabinet nominees who were introduced by the government in the second round of voting – since the establishment of National Unity Government (NUG) seven months ago.
This comes after the first round of voting on 28 January – following a four month delay. In this round, nine out of 19 nominees were approved.
A total of 239 MPs were present in Saturday's session to cast their vote. The only outstanding cabinet position is that of defense ministry. President Ashraf Ghani and the CEO Abdullah Abdullah have yet to agree on a candidate.
The names of the nominees and details on votes are as follows:
1. Hamayoun Rassa was approved as the minister of commerce and industries with 170 votes in his favor, 39 against, 24 blank and five invalid. He has previously served as the deputy minister of education, and a United Nations official.
2. Abdul Bari Jahani was approved as the minister of information and culture with 120 votes in his favor, 66 against, 35 blank and six invalid. He is a poet and a writer, and has worked with radio station – the Voice of America.
3. Asadullah Zameer was approved as the minister of agriculture, irrigation and livestock with 192 votes in his favor, 28 against, 15 blank and four invalid. He has served as the financial advisor with the rural rehabilitation ministry, director at agriculture ministry and an official of the World Bank.
4. Gulab Mangal was approved as the minister of borders and tribal affairs with 188 votes in his favor, 28 against, 13 blank and eight invalid. He has been the former governor for Helmand, Paktia and Laghman provinces.
5. Mahmood Baleegh was approved as the minister of public works with 168 votes in his favor, 38 against, 23 blank and eight invalid. He has been a professor at Kabul Polytechnic University.
6. Abdul Sattar Murad was approved as the minister of economy with 152 votes in his favor, 51 against, 29 blank and six invalid. He has been the governor of Kapisa and an Afghanistan Ambassador to Malaysia.
7. Mohammadullah Batash was approved as the minister of transport and civil aviation; with 176 votes in his favor, 32 against, 25 blank and six invalid. He has been the governor of Faryab and the acting minister of transport and civil aviation.
8. Asadullah Hanif was approved as the minister of education with 161 votes in his favor, 27 against, 18 blank and five invalid. He has been an Afghan Ambassador to Kuwait.
9. Sayed Mansour Sadat Nadiri was approved as the minister of urban development with 202 votes in his favor, 18 against, 10 blank and four invalid. He has been an advisor of Afghanistan's National Bank and also owns insurance companies.
10. Abdul Basir Anwar was approved as the minister of justice with 138 votes in his favor, 65 against, 30 blank and five invalid. He has been an advisor to former president Hamid Karzai, and the acting minister of health during Mujahidin's government.
11. Abdul Razaq Wahidi was approved as the minister of information technology with 152 votes in favor, 53 against, 28 blank and five invalid. He has been a university professor and a member of the mathematician's association.
12. Dilbar Nazari was approved as the minister of women's affairs with 131 votes in her favor, 70 against, 28 blank and 9 invalid. She has been a member of parliament and has worked with the Independent Election Commission and also with the United Nations.
13. Salamat Azimi was approved as the minister of counter-narcotics with 155 votes in her favor, 60 against and 23 blank. She has been a University Chancellor and a Professor.
14. Farida Momand was approved as the minister of higher education with 184 votes in her favor, 31 against, 18 blank and five invalid. She has worked as a doctor in several government hospitals.
15. Nasrin Oryakhail was approved as the minister of labors, social affairs, martyrs and disabled with 169 votes in her favor, 42 against, 21 blanks and five invalid. She has been a medical instructor at Kabul Medical University and the head of some government hospitals.
16. Ali Ahmad Osmani was approved as the minister of water and energy with 168 votes in his favor, 36 against, 29 blank and five invalid. He has been a university professor and has worked with the European Union and the World Food Program (WFP).
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has meanwhile welcomed today’s approval of the 16 ministers to the country’s NUG.
“It is imperative in the interests of effective governance that a full cabinet be in office and today’s approvals are vitally important,” said Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.
“The United Nations congratulates the ministers-designate and looks forward to working with them, supporting both them and the government in its important work ahead.”
The Special Representative urged that the minister of defence and other outstanding senior governmental and judicial positions be filled at the earliest time in order for the government to be at its full strength.
“No one said it was going to be easy,” said Haysom, referring to the process of the formation of the NUG, “but today is an important step forward, providing a real opportunity for fresh momentum and a refocusing on the many serious challenges facing the country. We would hope that this confirmation will give impetus to finalizing other outstanding appointments in a spirit of mutual cooperation.” (Tolonews)