Commission soon to enforce deal on unity govt

KABUL (Pajhwok): The election teams of both presidential candidates on Sunday promised to disclose details of the agreement on a government of national unity between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah.

Setting a date for the new president to be sworn in is among the tasks assigned to a joint commission with representatives from both election teams, according to officials.

Nauman Shinwari, a representative of Ashraf Ghani’s team, told Pajhwok Afghan News efforts were underway to enforce all points of the political agreement. He said the joint commission would chalk out details of the unity government.

Mujib Rahimi, a representative of Abdullah Abdullah’s team, said the commission had not been constituted yet. Muhammad Natiqii will represent Abdullah’s team on the panel.

Article 3 of the Political Framework Agreement between the two candidates says until such time as the position of executive prime minister is constitutionally established by the approval of Loya Jirga, the functions will be performed by a government chief executive officer. This position will be immediately established by presidential decree and held by a nominee of the runner-up and mutually agreed by the president.

Under Article 4 of the PFA, the president will create the position of leader of the opposition. The runner-up will select the person of his choice to fill this position.

Furthermore, the accord says, appointments to the key national security, economic and independent government agencies will be apportioned according to the principle of achieving parity between the choices of the president and the leader of the opposition.

Cabinet, judiciary, and key sub-national appointments will be apportioned in line with the principle of fair representation, chosen by the President in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.

The president will have to maintain continuity of leadership in key national security agencies for at least 90 days. The unity government has to adopt within one year fundamental reforms of the electoral system, developed by a broadly representational process, with a goal of remedying prior electoral shortcomings.

sks/mds