Al Jazeera: The 2004 Afghan constitution invests the president with more powers than former Afghan kings had before the republican period. Among them is the power to appoint all government officials, political and professional, from the cabinet to the district levels. At the same time the office of the president, at least in practice, tends to
Tolo News: Atta Mohammad Noor, the ousted governor of Balkh, has ordered the removal of Engineer Mohammad Dawood, the newly-appointed governor of Balkh by President Ashraf Ghani. A letter obtained by TOLOnews shows that the order has been issued based on complaints by residents of Zaare district in Balkh. The residents claimed that Engineer Dawood had
Tolo News: Kandahar Police Chief Gen. Abdul Raziq responded to recent rumors about his removal from the position, saying that he has not been appointed by the government and that the state cannot remove him. He made the remarks in an interview with a local radio station in Kandahar. Raziq said the government is a coalition
1TV: Ousted Balkh governor Ata Mohammad Noor on Tuesday claimed that officials are distributing arms in Kabul to destroy the northern province. Speaking at a gathering of his supporters, Noor said claimed that the people were being armed at two guesthouses in Kabul belonging to the National Security Council and intelligence agency National Directorate of Security.
1TV: Afghan Energy and Water Minister Ali Ahmad Osmani survived an impeachment vote in parliament on Monday. “You illegally have 120 advisers and all the people you have appointed recently are your relatives,” Jafar Mahdawi, a lawmaker, told the minister at the Lower House. MP Kamal Nasir Osoli accused the minister of corruption. Click here to
VOA News / December 30, 2017 Ayaz Gul ISLAMABAD — A powerful Afghanistan governor returned to his office Saturday and chaired an official meeting in violation of a presidential decree that ousted him from his post earlier this month. The escalating political uncertainty comes as the United States and its allies step up military efforts in
Tolo News: Bamiyan resident: Atta Mohmmad Noor is the brightness of our eyes; General Abdul Raziq is in our heart. Tribal elders from central, eastern and southern provinces at a big gathering in Kabul on Friday announced their support to Atta Mohammad Noor, who was recently removed as Balkh governor by President Ashraf Ghani. Click here to read more (external link). Related Sayyaf Warns Against Negative Outcomes Of
The Diplomat: According to research by the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU), the simple logic of “competitive elections” does not exist in Afghanistan’s electoral process. Therefore, “in their current manifestation, elections have the potential to destabilize” the country. Moreover, research from the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) on countries with upcoming elections shows that applying
Tolo News: Jamiat-e-Islami Party on Tuesday said in reaction to the Independent Directorate of Local Governance’s (IDLG) remarks over Atta Mohammad Noor’s fate that the appointment of a new governor for Balkh province without a political agreement will have numerous negative consequences. Jamiat-e-Islami party’s remarks came after IDLG had said the new governor for Balkh, Engineer
1TV: Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Monday said he agreed with President Ashraf Ghani’s decision to accept resignation of Ata Mohammad Noor as Balkh governor. Afghan presidency announced approval of Noor’s resignation a week ago. Noor, however, protested the move saying the resignation, offered months ago, was no longer valid, and said that the central