Khost rural rehabilitation director on job beyond office term

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): The Rural Rehabilitation and Development director of southeastern Khost province continues to serve on his post despite accused of corruption and the end of his office term, Pajhwok Afghan News has learnt.

Ashuqullah Ekhlasyar was transferred from Logar province to Khost province based on a letter from the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) in 2019.

Documents obtained by Pajhwok show that after six months of his volunteer work, the term of Ekhlasyar was extended until June 23, 2020.

National Directorate of Security (NDS) in a letter to Khost governor’s house on March 29 said that except the president, no other officials could work for more than a year in volunteer position.

NDS said that Ekhlasyar had no documents of his appointment as Khost rural rehabilitation and development head but he still continued his job.

The intelligence agency also said that Ekhlasyar had a case of corruption in Logar province and was once detained by Afghan forces but released on guarantee.

More than a year has passed since the case surfaced, but it yet to be finalized, the source said.

Based on the Civil Services Law, if the case of a person is not finalized in a period of a year, his or her position should be announced for employment of a new person.

In response to the NDS letter, Ex-deputy Khost governor, Abdul Wahid Patan in a letter to the Rural Rehabilitation and Development Ministry asked for legal processes to be done on the regard.

Naqibullah Matonwal, HR manager of the governor’s house, said that they had sent a letter to the relevant minister about the end of Ekhlasyar’s term, but the ministry did not respond so far.

According to the Article 102 of the Labor Law, if an employee is accused of a crime, his or her privileges and rights would be suspended during investigation and detention of the person.

According to the article seven of the Civil Services Law, the volunteer period of a worker cannot be extended beyond six months.

Khost Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC) head Abdul RazaqHimmat also said that the volunteer term could not be extended for a second time.

An official of Logar province who wished to go unnamed told Pajhwok that Ekhlasyar was accused of corruption in a road project implemented in Pul-i-Alam, capital of the province.

“This road is around six kilometers long but it was constructed with very poor quality, it has almost destroyed,” he said. However, the official did not provide further details about the case.

However, MRRD spokesman FeraidonAzhand acknowledged to Pajhwok that the volunteer period of Khost rural rehabilitation and development director had ended and said that legal steps would be taken on the regard.

He also confirmed corruption charges against Ekhlasyar in Logar but said the case was still sub-judice.

A lecturer in Khost University, Amir Baheer, said that MRRD minister had also occupied his position illegally and his order for extension of Ekhlasyar was also unlawful.

He said that rural rehabilitation and development minister illegally held his position as he failed to secure the parliament’s trust vote.

This report has been produced by Pajhwok and financially supported by UNDP and Denmark.

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