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Daudzai pledges election security, neutrality

author avatar
2 Sep 2013 - 19:34
author avatar
2 Sep 2013 - 19:34

KABUL): The acting interior minister on Monday pledged his ministry would not interfere in next year’s presidential election and would try its best to pave the ground for credible polls.

Ex-ambassador to Pakistan, Omar Daudzai was introduced as acting minister by Senior Minister Hidayat Amin Arsala at a ceremony here. Arsala praised the incoming minister as an experienced and patriotic man.

A day earlier, President Hamid Karzai brought changes to the country’s security leadership by appointing Daudzai as acting minister and Kabul police head Gen. Ayub Salangi as his deputy.

Also tasked with introducing Daudzai to the parliament for a trust vote, Arsala told the ceremony, attended by senior officials, that the presidential decision was aimed to improve the security environment in the country.

Syed Wali Sultan, the Cabinet Secretariat deputy chief, read out Karzai orders, saying that Daudzai and Salangi had been assigned with initiating effective measures to improve the security situation.

With regard to his predecessor Gen. Mujtaba Patang’s plans for reforming the police force, the former ambassador promised he follow the strategy.

He alleged foreigners were training and funding militants for terrorist activities in Afghanistan, where 1,792 policemen had been killed and 2,758 others wounded in rebel attacks since March 20.

“I’ll do my bit to make police a professional, neutral and honest force that fears Allah and loves Afghanistan, a country that needs security,” Daudzai said, adding he would instill a sense of protection among his countrymen.

He added: “I direct all police personnel to speak for or against any election candidate or participate in any contender’s campaign. Our duty is to provide security, not to interfere in the electoral process. As acting minister, I’m committed to following this principle.”   

The Wolesi Jirga — lower house of parliament — unseated Patang as interior minister by bringing a vote of no-confidence against him in July. Subsequently, the president referred the issue to the Supreme Court, which allowed Patang to continue as acting minister.

mud

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