3 members of Ghani cabinet survive no-confidence vote

KABUL, or lower house of parliament.

On November 9, the house decided to summon 17 ministers who spent less than 70 percent of their development budgets during the current solar year.

Until now, the house has disqualified ministers of public works, labour, foreign affairs, aviation and transport, higher education and communications and information technology.

However, the ministers of justice, finance and urban affairs managed to survive the no-trust vote. The house continued the process despite receiving a letter from the Presidential Palace, calling for the postponement of no-confidence proceedings.

Economy Minister Abdul Sattar Murad, Public Health Minister Dr. Firozuddin Firoz and Refugee Affairs Minister Syed Hussain Alami Balkhi were summoned to appear before MPs in the afternoon.

However, none of the cabinet members turned up, with the lawmakers casting votes in the absence of the ministers.

The public health minister got 170 votes in his favour while 28 legislators voted against him. As many as 114 MPs voted for and 81 against the economy minister.

Similarly, the refugee affairs minister won the confidence of 105 lawmakers, with 90 voting against him.

The lower house had also summoned the information and culture minister, Abdul Bari Jahani, but he resigned his position a few days ago.

mds/mud