Ghani introduces cabinet to the parliament

KABUL, (NNI): Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday officially introduced the National Unity Government’s cabinet members to the National Assembly or Wolesi Jirga for a confidence vote amid controversy.

One minister-designate was found on the most wanted list of the Interpol while two withdrew nominations.

Speaking at Parliament, Ghani said that he did his best to elect a cabinet worthy of the MPs acceptance, but stressed that they “have the right to accept or reject any or all of the nominees,” adding that the cabinet is accountable to the people and the Wolesi Jirga, Lower House of the parliament.

The list of nominees presented by the president and chief executive has seen a few changes since the initial announcement; exactly 105 days after the formation of the National Unity Government (NUG).

Just hours before the introduction of the cabinet, nominee for the Ministry of Water and Energy Mahmoud Saikal withdrew his nomination after expressing his conclusion with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. Saikal has been replaced by Abdul Rahman Salahi, an ally of former Minister of Water and Energy and former Jihadist leader Ismail Khan, Tolo TV reported.

On Monday former Gen. Director of the Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG) Jilani Popal, withdrew his nomination as Minister of Finance to keep his dual citizenship, according to officials.

Another cabinet nominee Mohammad Yaqoob Haidari, who was nominated for the Ministry of Agriculture, has been on Interpol’s most wanted since 2003 and asks the government for the suspension of his nomination until the allegations have cleared.

The nominees will present their platforms to the Wolesi Jirga starting Wednesday and the next two days. The MPs will make their final decision sometime next week on the cabinet.

The Administrative Committee of the House has said that over half of the candidates have dual citizenship and that the educational documents of some of the nominees are invalid.

Deputy Chairman of the House Saleh Muhammad Saljooqi has said that nominees with dual citizenship and invalid educational documents will not receive votes of confidence

International affairs commission finding show that Noor-ul-Haq Uloomi, nominee for the Ministry of Interior, is also a citizen of Holland; Salahuddin Rabbani, nominee for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is also a citizen of Britain; Daud Shah Sabah, nominee for the Ministry of Mines, is also a citizen of the United States; Mahmood Saiqal, nominee for the Ministry of Energy and Water, is a citizen of Australia; Said Sadat Naderi, nominee for the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled, is a citizen of Britain; Faizullah Kakar, nominee for the Ministry of Counter Narcotics, is also a citizen of the United States; Ay Sultan Khairy, nominee for the Ministry of Information and Culture, is a citizen of Turkey; and Shah Zaman Maiwandi, nominee for the Ministry of Urban Development, is a citizen of Germany,” Mr. Saljooqi said