Wolesi Jirga adds 11 Cabinet picks to agenda

KABUL for a vote of confidence on Saturday.

Currently 14 ministries are headed by acting ministers. The government has introduced eight nominees to replace as many acting ministers for a vote of confidence to the lower house.

Shah Hussian Murtazavi, deputy spokesman to the president, on his Facebook page wrote that 11 Cabinet picks would appear before lawmakers for the trust vote on Saturday.

Qais Hassan, head of the communication commission of the lower house, told Pajhwok Afghan News that a list of 11 ministers-designate had been shared with them.

He said the leadership committee of the Wolesi Jirga on Tuesday decided to add the 11 Cabinet picks to the house’s agenda for Saturday session.

Hassan hoped the government would also introduce the remaining nominees to replace acting ministers.

Hameed Tahmasi has been nominated for the ministry of transport, Mohammad Shafiq Gul Agha Sherzai for the ministry of border and tribal affairs, Tariq Shah Bahrami for defense, Abdul Latif Roshan for higher education, Faizullah Zaki for ‘labor, social affairs, martyrs and disabled’ and Nargis Nehan for mines and petroleum.

Wais Ahmad Barmak has been nominated to head the ministry of interior, Shahzad Gul Aryubi the ministry of telecommunication and information technology and Yama Yari  public works ministry.

Mujib Rahman Karim nominated for the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development and Nasir Ahmad Durani for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.

Besides the mentioned ministries, the ministries of foreign affairs, education and information and culture are also run by acting heads.

Salahuddin Rabbani, acting foreign affairs minister and Asadullah Hanif Balkhi, acting education minister, have been disqualified by the Wolesi Jirga. Abdul Bari Jahani resigned as information and culture minister.

Asadullah Hanif Balkhi was sacked by the president on Tuesday as acting minister of education and replaced with Mohammad Ibrahim Shinwari, technical assistance at the ministry.

Wolesi Jirga has repeatedly asked the government to introduce all its Cabinet picks to the house for endorsement.

Some acting ministers have been on the posts for more than one and a half years, against the relevant law.

Mds/ma

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