Pul-i-Khumri mayor suspended

PUL-I-KHUMPRI (Pajhwok): An urban court in northern Baghlan province has suspended Pul-i-Khumri Mayor Abdullah Haris, who says he has no information about the ruling.

Haris was replaced on Tuesday by Mir Ahmad, another official of the municipality. Officials at the provincial Attorney Office said the mayor had been charged with law violations and inefficiency.

Attorney Din Mohammad Quraishi told Pajhwok Afghan News the ruling suspending Haris was handed down after a join assessment by his office and the Justice Department.

“We have been observing the mayor’s activities for months and found him not fulfilling his responsibilities well and he has also been inefficient,” he said.

One of charges against Haris relates to his decision on constructing an underground market on the Baghlan highway without informing the Public Works Department.

The attorney said a contract on the market’s construction had been signed with a private firm, but practical work was yet to be launched.

“The Attorney’s Office has sent many letters of inquiry to the mayor since last month, but he is refusing to come up with a replay,” Quraishi said.  

He said the mayor had also interrupted the assessment process and had been asked to be present during the investigation or face arrest.

Deputy Governor Abdul Qayyum Niazi confirmed the mayor had been replaced by Mir Ahmad, the accountant at the municipality.

Residents also accused the mayor of being inefficient and welcomed the court ruling.

mrh/ma