Politicians not requested President Ghani to resign

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some media outlets report that key political parties and politicians in the country in a letter have asked President Ashraf Ghani to resign, but the claim was rejected.

Claim: Some politicians in a letter asked President Ghani to resign.

Kabul based media outlet today in a report said that a source close to former president, Hamid Karzai, who wished to go unnamed, said that the former president, head of Dawat-i-Islami party, Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf, head of Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, key members of Jamiat-i-Islami Afghanistan, Mohammad YounusQanoni and Mohammad Ismail Khan, head of Wahdat-i-Islami Afghanistan, Mohammad Karim Khalili, founder of Junbish-i-Islami Afghanistan, Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, former National Security Advisor, Rahmatullah Nabil, government’s negotiating team members, Fatima Gilani and Fawzia Kufi and some other politicians in a letter have asked the president to resign.

The source said that the president was asked for his resignation so it would help boost peace efforts and stop bloodshed in the country. The issue was previously also discussed during a meeting between Ghani, Karzai and Hekmatyar, the report says.

The report is also published by some other media outlets. 

 Fact checking:

Shahzada Massoud, an advisor to former president, Hamid Karzai, about the report said, “It is totally untrue…”

Chief of office of the former president, KarimKhuram also said that the report was false.

Hamayon Jarir, a leading member of Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan, said, “We are unaware about the letter and Hekmatyar has not signed such a letter.”

The Presidential Palace was also contacted in this regard but no response was received. A media outlet that published this report deleted this report after few hours from its website.

Outcome: Some media sources have reported that key political parties and politicians in the country in a letter have asked President Ashraf Ghani to resign, while politicians rejected the claim.

Verdict: Reports about politicians’ request to President Ghani to resign are false.

Mds/ma