Baghdad, January 04: In a dramatic development, Afghanistan’s parliament has rejected 17 out of 24 cabinet nominations by President Hamid Karzai submitted for approval last month.
The seven ministers approved by the lower house of parliament during secret voting on Saturday evening included minister for defence, interior and finance while new foreign minister is yet to be nominated by President.
The justice, commerce, energy, economy, public health and communications portfolios were among posts left empty after parliamentarians used their majority vote to reject the ministers.
The President will have to nominate new individuals for these ministries at a time when country is facing its worst security situation.
The decision may hamper work in these ministries when an international conference on Afghanistan is scheduled for 28th January at London.
Meanwhile, country’s election commission has announced for a parliamentary vote to be held on 22nd May despite some concerns that the country’s electoral system needs reform.
Chief electoral officer Dr. Daud Ali Najafi, while announcing the date, said Afghanistan needs another 50 million US dollars from the international community to meet the election’s estimated budget of 120 million US dollars.
Dr. Najafi said they did not receive any official communication from the international community that they are not supporting the election.
He said a paper was sent by the United Nations which made certain recommendations for electoral reforms adding that it is up to the parliament to approve the electoral law.
—Agencies