<p><a href="/en/afganistan/kabul" class="glossify-link">KABUL</a> (Pajhwok): Some members of the State Builder team, led by President Ashraf Ghani, in northern Balkh province have hit out at his political agreement with Dr. Abdullah.</p>
<p>Addressing a press conference in Mazar-i-Sharif, members of the State Builder team complained they had faced multiple problems in electioneering.</p>
<p>Appointments to government positions were once again being made on political grounds, they alleged.</p>
<p>Tajuddin Khurram, head of the State Builder team in Balkh, told journalists they had worked a lot for President Ghani’s victory in a very difficult situation.</p>
<p>He recalled they had been promised that a coalition government would not be formed again but the commitment had not been honoured..</p>
<p>“It is clear that people were killed and injured during the election campaigns. Even some were tortured by the <a href="/en/taliban" class="glossify-link">Taliban</a>,” Khurram remarked.</p>
<p>However, he acknowledged, the masses’ commitment to democratic values by streaming to polling sites in defiance of insurgent warnings.</p>
<p>“Unfortunately, after the announcement of the election results, a coalition government has been formed based on a deal,” he commented.</p>
<p>Khurram grumbled they had rendered numerous sacrifices in Balkh for the State Builder team but appointments by the new government were based on nepotism.</p>
<p>He stressed fresh appointments of government officials in the province should be based on merit instead of political deals.</p>
<p>Haji Mohammad Mehdiyar, another member of the State Builder ticket in Balkh, said they had campaigned and voted for a responsible government.</p>
<p>Mohammad Akbar Wahdat, another campaigner for Ghani’s team, asked the president to pave the ground for youth to serve in the new government.</p>
<p>Other members of the team held similar views, demanding their rights at a time when a credible government source confirmed to Pajhwok that key posts had been given to former governor Atta Mohammad Noor.</p>
<p>The campaigners also read out a resolution and released a statement that read:</p>
<p>1: We will not allow a repeat of the 2014 experiment at any cost. Those who have rendered sacrifices, were part of this team, live on this soil, have the ability, commitment and capacity should not be ignored.</p>
<p>2: Most of the State Builder team’s campaign offices have not been paid their expenses yet and we want their expenses to be cleared.</p>
<p>3: The president’s campaign slogan was “I’m accountable and I want accountability.” Now he should hold us accountable and offer himself for accountability. We want work and food for talented individuals on merit.</p>
<p>sa/mud</p>
