KABUL - First Vice-President Mohammad Qasim Fahim on Saturday introduced nominations for five new ministers and two new members of the Supreme Court to the Lower House, which will have to pass a vote of confidence for each one to be confirmed.
Din Mohammad Mobarez Rashedi was nominated for the post of Counter-Narcotics Minister; Zarar Ahmad Osmani was nominated Foreign Affairs Minister; Mohammad Shakar Kargar was nominated Commerce and Industries Minister; Mohammad Akbar Barakzai was the nominee for Mines and Petroleum Minister; Mohammad Aref Norzai, the nominee for Energy and Water Minister; and Abdul Qadar Adalatkhah and Din Mohammad Geran were introduced as new members of the Supreme Court.
In addition to introducing the nominees, Fahim spoke to the lawmakers about the upcoming elections.
He expressed confidence in the government doing everything in its power to ensure the vote is transparent and fair.
Fahim stressed on the need for close coordination between the three branches of government.
"The country is in a sensitive state," he said. "We are all responsible for building sovereignty in the country."
Fahim, like many Afghan officials, impressed upon the significance of the elections in shaping Afghanistan's future.
"We have presidential and provincial council elections, and the security entities and the government will serve the process so people can comfortably take part in this important event," he said.
Regarding the nominees, all were presented along with a slew of titles, past posts and honors.
Mohammad Shakar Kargar previously worked as Minister of Energy and Water, a Member of Parliament and Afghanistan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan. Mohammad Akbar Barakzai was the Deputy Minister of Mines and Petroleum.
Mohammad Aref Norzai served as Minister of Border, Tribal and Ethnic Affairs and advisor to President Hamid Karzai. Abdul Qadar Adalatkhah was Deputy Minister of Justice Ministry and a member of the commission overseeing the implementation of the Constitution. And finally Din Mohammad Geran was formerly a university lecturer. (Tolo News)