KABUL - More than 500 judges have either been terminated or transferred by the president as proposed by the chief justice, the president’s office said on Saturday.
Deputy presidential spokesman Dawa Khan Menapal told Pajhwok Afghan News the measures were part of anti-corruption efforts and to have fair access to cases.
“The Chief Justice presented his proposals about sacking or transferring of 500 judges in order to fight corruption and to prevent bribery in courts to the president who has endorsed the suggestions,” he said.
He said there were no further details, but based on information the Supreme Court had provided most of the judges had been transferred from one place to another.
Menapal said the government was committed to enforcing the award and punishment system in the justice system.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Supreme Court, Gen. Nisar Ahmad, said 135 judges had been reshuffled the president and 402 others by the chief justice. He said none of the judges had been sacked.
The development comes after a Pajhwok Afghan News survey revealed administrative corruption remained endemic in Afghanistan particularly in the judiciary, customs offices, municipalities and police department.
In last month’s online survey participated by 668 individuals, in every five persons, four believed corruption existed on large scale in the justice sector and 80 per cent people termed the culture of impunity a huge challenge in Afghanistan. (Pajhwok)