3 more cabinet picks have dual nationality, says MP

KABUL member Shukria Barakzai said on Monday the lower house received dual nationality complaints about three more ministers-designate.

Barakzai told journalists ministers-designate of foreign affairs Salahuddin Rabbani, interior affairs Noor-ul-Haq Ulumi, public works Sadat Naderi, urban development Shah Zaman Maiwandi and information Sultan Khairi have already given up their dual nationality rights.

“The embassies of the countries concerned have made clear that ministers-designate have to travel abroad on Afghan passports after surrendering their dual nationality rights,” she noted.

In addition, she said, a number of Wolesi Jirga members had also dual citizenship and they could not raise objections to others having such nationality.

“Why aren’t Siddique Ahmad, first deputy speaker of Wolesi Jirga, and Syed Ikram, secretary to the lower house, questioned? Both have dual nationality,” she claimed.

Last month, the unity government finally announced a long-awaited list of 25 ministers-designate, National Directorate of Security (NDS Bank heads.

Earlier, the Wolesi Jirga decided not to give a trust vote to ministers-designate with dual nationality. Under Article 72 of the constitution, ministers should have only Afghan nationality.

rm/mud

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