MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): A provincial council member in northern Balkh province, Mohammad Asif Momand, has been suspended for not attending the council’s sessions; however, Momand said his was suspended under pressure from Governor Atta Mohammad Noor.
PC head Dr. Mohammad Afzal Hadid on Monday told Pajhwok Afghan News that Momand had been absent for the past four months and he had not attended any session during the period.
He said the decision to suspended membership of Momand had been taken based on the council’s internal procedures and the PC law.
“If two-thirds of the PC members agree, the council has a legal right to suspend a member’s duty in case he/she is absent for three months,” he said. “Of 18 members of our council, 14 signed the petition against Momand’s suspension.”
Hadid said formal letters had also been sent to the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) to stop Momand’s salary and privileges and introduce his runner up in election to replace him.
However, Momand told Pajhwok people had elected him and no public representative had the right to suspend or dismiss him. He admitted not attending the council for three months.
Momand said he wasn’t abroad but had been in Kabul due to his political compulsion. He said he had received the salary and privileges of the three months.
Momand accused Balkh Governor Noor of acting behind the scenes to get him suspended.
However, Balkh governor’s spokesman, Munir Farhad, said the governor did not interfere in the provincial council affairs. He said the PC was a separate organization and took decisions in light of law on its own.
However, Farhad said the provincial council had taken decision against Momand and the provincial administration backed it.
On the other hand, IEC Balkh chapter said they had received no letter concerning Momand.
IEC in-charge for Balkh said they had executive authority and if they received the letter from the provincial council, then they would submit it to the IEC central secretariat.
Asif Momand is a resident of Wazirabad village of Balkh district. He was elected to the council in the last PC elections.
He has been critical of the Balkh governor over the past six months and has accused him of land-grabbing and administrative corruption. Momand has been living in Kabul for the past four months.
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