Brothers serving as Helmand governor, deputy criticised

KABUL (Pajhwok): Provincial council members and civil society activists of southern Helmand province criticize the appointment of two brothers as governor and deputy governor of the province.

They say government officials should not give high positions to a single family, but also let others play their part.

BismillahRohani has been serving as deputy governor of Helmand province for the last several years. His brother, Mohammad WaliAlizaiwas was appointed as governor of the province two weeks ago.

Helmand provincial council head, Attaullah Afghan said it was not a problem when two brothers were serving on high positions, but other Helmand youths should also be given a chance.

“I think it is not a big problem, but there are a lot of other educated youths in Helmand who should be given a chance,” he added.

AmanullahHasrat, a civil society activist in Helmand, said that two members of a single family should not be appointed to the highest positions of a province.

“Based on my information, the deputy governor position is for women, but there are some cultural issues here which is the reason women showed no interest, but what is important is that not everything should be given to a single ethnic group or family…,” he said.

He said that appointments of such kind would also pave way for corruption and affect services.

“Governor himself may not engage in corruption, but his brother can do it easily, because he is sure that his brother is governor and no one can stop him,” he said.

Meanwhile, a source from Helmand said that Alizai was not graduated from school and also had hearing problems.

Abdul Fattah HashratAhmadzai, spokesman of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, said that it was not permitted that two members of a single family work in the same office according to the labor law.

However, Mohammad WaliAlizai told Pajhwok that he and his brother were appointed based on the president’s order.

“Before I came here, my brother was deputy governor, if another person comes to this position, we will have no problem,” he said.

NargizMomand, spokeswoman for Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), said that they had prepared a suggestion for Helmand’s deputy governor position and would soon share it with the Presidential Palace for approval.

She did not provide further information on the regard.

Mds/ma