<p>KHOST CITY (<a href="/en/pan" class="glossify-link">PAN</a>): Thirty-one illegally appointed employees are working at customs house and revenue departments of southwestern Khost province, the governor’s office said on Tuesday.</p>
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<p>The individuals were appointed in violation of the presidential decree 987, dated April 21, 2012, a statement from the governor’s office said.</p>
<p>Under the decree, all government servants should be appointed on merit through an open competition by the Independent Administrative Reform & Civil Service Commission (IARCSC).</p>
<p>Contrary to the presidential orders, the Ministry of Finance has illegally hired 24 officials in the customs department and seven in the revenue department, the statement said.</p>
<p>The officials had close relations with high-ranking officials, but the local administration failed to enforce laws discouraging nepotism, the statement quoted Governor Abdul Jabbar Naeemi as saying.</p>
<p>Provincial head of IARCSC Haroon Mujahid, meanwhile, confirmed the anomalous appointments. He acknowledged the appointees had not met the formalities.</p>
<p>The Priority Reform and Restructuring process was not possible to be completed at the same time in all departments, a spokesman for the ministry said.</p>
<p>Wahidullah Ghazikhel said they were trying to hire officials gradually through the IARCSC system.</p>
<p>ml/myn/mud</p>
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