Deadline to name cabinet expires tomorrow

KABUL (Pajhwok): Various political groups have been mounting pressure on the unity government to give them representation in the new cabinet, a dilemma widely regarded a major reason behind the delay in naming the council of ministers, sources close to the president and the CEO said on Saturday.

No breakthrough could be achieved so far despite only one day is left in meeting a deadline the president and the CEO had given to the international community at the London Conference earlier this month.

Another deadline the Wolesi Jirga set for the government Saturday last to introduce cabinet nominees expired today.

After being sworn-in, President Ashraf Ghani promised he would introduce his council of ministers in 45 days, a deadline that already passed.

After the London conference, the president and the CEO said they would form the cabinet within four weeks. This deadline is due to end tomorrow (Sunday).

Rights and Justice Party head Moeen Marastial, also a close aide to President Ghani, told Pajhwok Afghan News political groups had been trying to influence the president and the CEO to give them a lion share in the cabinet.

“A number of groups, political parties, and individuals have expectations from the president and the CEO that they will give them a share in the new cabinet. The faces they introduced so far for different ministerial posts did not meet the standards the president had set,” he remarked.

Without naming anyone, Marastial said there were also internal as well external groups creating troubles for the unity government. “It is impossible to introduce the cabinet tomorrow.”

However, he said the cabinet could be introduced by the end of this week. Sources close to the CEO also insist that the process is time-consuming.

Mahmood Saeqal, Abdullah’s advisor, said negotiations were ongoing, but the process would take time and hoped the deadlock would be overcome soon.

Referring to the delay in cabinet formation, he said: “The negotiations are part of politics. We are ready to name our picks.”

Earlier, parliament raised serious concerns over the delay in cabinet introduction and the deteriorating security situation in the country.

Hamidzai Lalai, a lawmaker, said parliamentarians were of the opinion that candidates for key security posts as well as Supreme Court judges and Attorney General should not be chosen by either the camps.

Fauzia Kofi, another MP, said people across the country belonged to both the camps in one way or another.

“If we want technocrat ministers then all of them should be technocrats, no ministry should be exempted. But if we want them to be political, then all should be political. As we know people from all walks of life are associated with the two groups,” Kofi added.

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