MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Provincial Council (PC) head for northern Balkh province on Sunday claimed a number of key government posts had been sold in the province.
On the other hand, the newly appointed appellate court head identified fighting against strongmen and corruption as his priority.
Wahidudin Arghon, deputy attorney general, who visited Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh, on Sunday to introduce new head for the Balkh appellate court.
Talking on the occasion, Arghon said administrative corruption, law violations and strongmen remained major challenges.
He said the Attorney General Office had initiated some reforms and the appointment of the new head for the Balkh appellate court was part of that.
“The AGO is trying to take nationwide measures in order to ensure justice and law enforcement”, he added.
“Administrative corruption and bribery are main problems for us that damage our dignity in the international community, foreign supporters and organizations; we are committed to preventing these illegal practices in the capital and provinces infuture.”
Arghon said allegations about administrative corruption, negligence in duty and law violations also happened in Balkh but the new appellate court head would try to deal with them.
He added corrupt figures and strongmen would not be tolerated at any level.
A complete consensus on fighting against corrupt individuals has already been developed and the courts were committed enforcing the law on all, he said.
Meanwhile, Balkh provincial council head Mohammad Afzal Hadid said government officials’ promises about dealing with law violators and corrupt figures remained confined to papers alone.
He said officials of the judicial organs usually made promises but they did nothing in action.
Hadid said many figures currently facing criminal chargeshad occupied top government positions in Balkh. However, he did not name anyone.
“How the judicial system would be able to deal with corrupt figures and law violators when (criminals) still occupy government positions in the province”, he argued.
Without providing details, Hadid said some individuals in Balkh had purchased a number of government posts in the province.
“Corruption would continue in provinces until the phenomenon is fought right from the leadership of the central government”, he said.
“There are no judges and prosecutors in a number of Balkh districts, how they chant slogans of implementing justice and law, I think problems are too much and we hope the new appellate court head would be able to deal with them,” Hadid added.
He said Balkh people did not expect the law would be fully enforced, but they hoped at least obvious corruption would be eliminated.
Saifullah Popal, the newly appointed appellate court head for Balkh, said fighting against corrupt figures would be his priority.
He said he was not affiliated to any political party or group and he was sent to Balkh people to serve them honestly.
Popal asked Islamic scholars, civil society activists, media and tribal elders to evaluate their performance.
He added he would share the court’s performance reports with Balkh people.
