Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

‘President Playing Political Game with Parliament’

‘President Playing Political Game with Parliament’

KABUL - First deputy speaker of Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament on Monday said the president was playing a political game with parliament by not sending his nominees for a trust vote to fill vacant Cabinet portfolios.
On November 2, 2016, the lower house summoned 16 ministers and impeached the ministers of foreign affairs, labour, public works, education, transport, communication and higher education in absentia.
The ministries of information and culture, mines and petroleum and border and tribal affairs are currently headed by acting ministers.
Abdul Bari Jahani and Daud Shah Saba who served as information and culture, and mines and petroleum ministers have resigned. The border and tribal affairs minister, Mohammad Gulab Mangal has appointed as governor for Nangarhar province.
Nargis Nehan has recently been appointed as acting minister for mines and petroleum.
Humayon Humayon, first deputy speaker of Wolesi Jirga told Monday’s session that the house administrative board had recently asked the president to introduce his Cabinet picks.
“Unfortunately, the president did not introduce candidates for the important posts, he is politically playing with parliament,” he said.
“The continuation of acting culture is clearly a violation of law, an issue that must be addressed,” Hamayon stressed without going into details.
He said the majority of acting ministers were misbehaving with people’s representatives and calling themselves unaccountable to the parliament.
“We once again ask our dear president to introduce nominees for vacant ministries to the Wolesi Jirga for a vote of confidence because not introducing the candidates will bring under question the legal position of this house,” he said.
“If the candidates are not introduced, then this government should be labeled a dictatorship, not democratically elected regime,” he said.
Saleh Mohammad Haqjo, a lawmaker from western Herat province, also said the acting ministers did not treat people’s representatives well. He accused acting officials of misusing their authority and considering themselves immune from accountability.
The lawmaker also asked the government leaders to put the acting culture to an end and introduce the ministers-designate as soon as possible. (Pajhwok)