Facebook users clash over Ismail Khan remarks

KABUL leader and minister Ismail Khan about the cabinet’s formation.

The users said Khan remained power hungry and his remarks were an attempt to exploit the name of mujahid (holy warrior) for his own interest, but others stood by his remarks.

Khan recently said half of the cabinet members were communists and the unity government could not maintain security with such a cabinet.

The former water and energy minister was addressing a gathering in western Herat province. He urged the government to appoint former jihadi leaders on governmental posts.

His speech drew a hot debate among Facebook users, with some calling him power hungry and others supporting him.

One user Shah Nazar wrote on his wall: “Ismail Khan is responsible for all the miseries in the west zone. He worked for his personal interests when he was a minister and today not in power, he is trying to show himself a supporter of the west zone’s people. He did not serve the people when he was the minister of power and energy.”

Sarima Afzali wrote: “He is not a leader or representative of Herat people. The votes he collected in the first round of presidential in the west confirm my remarks. Some of his supporter MPs know nothing about Herat and support him for their own benefits.”

Some other Facebook users reacted in opposition to these opinions. One of them Tawab Qayyumi wrote:  “Herat people had no fears when Ismail Khan was the governor. He changed the province into a business centre, developed the Herat University and created jobs.”

Rahimuddin Mahmudi said: “Indeed the mujahideen are marginalised by the national unity government. They should raise their voice; otherwise they will be entirely thrown out of power and governmental positions.”

hs/ma

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