Wolesi Jirga mulls final word on Dilawari’s fate

KABUL Bank governor Noorullah Dilawari and deciding his fate after he failed to appear before the assembly twice.

The lower house committee of commission heads had previously summoned Dilawari on April 14 to brief lawmakers about problems facing the banking sector, particularly the New Kabul Bank.  

At the time, Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi had said the house had been informed by the central bank that its chief Dilawari had gone abroad and could not attend the session on April 14.

 “We are adjourning today’s agenda until Wednesday and wherever Dilawari is, he should arrive at the assembly on that day so as we can proceed with the agenda,” he had remarked.

But Dilawai was away. Ibrahimi told today’s session that lawmakers should decide a new date for calling the central bank governor after he failed twice to turn up.

He tasked the committee of panel heads to come up with a new date for summoning Dilawari.

Article 64 of the Constitution says the president appoints ministers, the Attorney General, the Central Bank chief, the National Security Directorate head and the President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society with the endorsement of the House of People.

Amir Yar Khan, who heads the house commission on budget and financial affairs, accused Dilawari of his involvement in the Kabul Bank scandal because he was a member of the central bank board when the crisis occurred in 2010. 

The bank, once the country’s largest lender, plunged into deep crisis in 2009, when it lost $835 million in fraudulent property deals, massive off-book loans and loans to fake corporations, prompting the government to take over the bank’s affairs.

Sher Khan Farnoud, the bank’s founder and chairman, and Khalilullah Ferozi, CEO of the bank, are listed among the nearly two dozen people accused of involvement in the fraud that pushed the once-biggest private lender to the brink of collapse.

The scandal, which first broke in 2010, prompted the International Monetary Fund to temporarily suspend hundreds of millions of dollars of international aid to Afghanistan.

Dilawri last year said they had recovered $173 millions from the bank’s debtors in cash.

But Yar said due to a weak management by Dilawari, the central bank had been paying thousands of dollars each month to cover the Kabul Bank’s losses.

He also alleged some Babul Bank officials and advisors appointed by the central bank received thousands of dollars in salaries, calling for Dilawari to be impeached and replaced with a right person.

Lawmaker from western Herat province, Manawar Shah Bahadari, alleged Dilawari had not been on an official trip abroad, but hiding. He said Dilawari had turned old and could not run the affairs properly.

“A no trust vote should be drawn against Dilawari in absentia.  He was twice summoned, but did not turn up. This amounts to insulting the august house,” Bahadari said.

Other lawmakers held similar views. Ibrahimi said the house should take a decision on Dilawari’s fate. About 57 MPs filled out forms and signed them to summon Dilawari, but a date in this regard would be firmed up by the committee of panel heads.

Lawmaker Mohammad Sarwar Usmani said the house had given the trust vote to Dilawari under the Article 64 and the house had the right to withdraw the trust vote.

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