Karzai wants MPs to vote for his Cabinet picks

KABUL): President Hamid Karzai has urged lawmakers to keep national unity in mind while voting on the fate of ministers-designate, an official said on Thursday.

On Feb 15, Karzai introduced some of his Cabinet picks to the Wolesi Jirga for a vote of confidence, but they had been unable to secure the minimum required number of votes.

Second Deputy Speaker Nimatullah Ghafari told Pajhwok Afghan News the president issued the call during an extraordinary session of Parliament over the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by US soldiers.

Karzai has nominated Mohammad Ismail as minister of energy and water, Eng. Amirzai Sangin as minister of telecommunications, Dr. Suraya Dalil as minister of public health’s’ affairs.

Dr. Obaidullah Obaid has been named as minister of higher education, Wais Ahmad Barmak as minister of rural rehabilitation, Daud Ali Najafi as minister of transport and civil aviation, Hassan Abdulhai as minister of urban development and Eng. Najibullah Awjan as minister of public works.

Meanwhile, a statement from his office quoted Karzai as saying that foreign forces must take steps to heal the wounds of Afghans. He called the incident of Quran burning the result of US troops’ ignorance about the sanctity of religious materials.

The statement added foreign forces had been asked not to repeat such irresponsible acts in the future. “When the Afghans raised their voice, the US government offered an immediate apology to the government and people of Afghanistan,” Karzai continued.

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