Dostum opposes Massoud’s removal: Aide

KABUL (Pajhwok): First Vice-President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum has opposed the removal of Ahmad Zia Massoud from his office, saying people are fed up with the president’s decisions and perfidy, an official said on Tuesday.

Inayatullah Babar Farahmand, head of the first vice president office, told Pajhwok afghan News in an interview that the sacking of Massoud as the president’s special representative for reforms and good governance was unfair.

“Ahamd Zia Massoud, on behalf of Tajiks has offered great sacrifices. He joined the change and continuity team during the 2014 presidential election against the decision of his party and stood with President Ghani. He did a fantastic job,” he added.   

Farahmand said the chief executive position had been promised to Massoud during the presidential election but he accepted a newly created post to save the country from plunging into a political crisis after the 2014 election results were declared.

Farahmand said Ghani reached the presidency with votes from followers of Gen. Dostum and Ahmad Zia.

“Ahmad Zia is treated unfairly and it was tried to damage Gen. Dostum’s character nationally and internationally,” he added.

He said the Uzbeks were not happy with the injustice meted out to Dostum and Massoud and they were ready to handle any movement if not stopped by the VP.

Massoud was fired as the president’s special representative for reforms and good governance on Monday through a special and brief presidential decree.

Meanwhile, Shah Hussain Murtazavi, acting spokesperson for the presidential palace, said any selection and removal of government officials were based on the constitution and powers of the president of Afghanistan.

He said main purpose of such actions was to increase efficiency and effectiveness of government offices.

kh/ma

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