Govt under fire for failing to honour pledges

KABUL (Pajhwok): The unity government’s failure to honour its promises has led to the criticism of its leadership, political analysts said on Sunday.

Introduction of cabinet within 45 days was the government’s main promise, which President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has been unable to keep three months after his inauguration.

A day earlier, Wolesi Jirga Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi claimed the government had been formed at the US Embassy. “Election results remained unclear and, therefore, the government also does not have a legal basis.”

Some lower house members also slammed the unity government as illegitimate and unconstitutional, setting a one-week deadline for the introduction of a new Council of Ministers.

Political analyst Ahmad Saeedi said not only parliament but all people were running out of patience due to uncertainty. He warned if the government did not honour its pledges, it would be unable to complete its five-year tenure.

Some media outlets reported President Ghani and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah had agreed on eight Cabinet nominees and head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS).

The nominees include Fazal Ahmad Manawi, Sher Mohammad Karimi, Faizullah Zaki, Jilani Popal, Gul Zia, Sadat Nadiri, Sardar Rahimi, Salahuddin Rabbani and Rahmatullah Nabil.

Another political analyst, Bashir Bhezan said the parliament’s response was reflection of what the people of Afghanistan were thinking. He said leaders of the unity government had forgotten what they promised during election campaigns.

Abdul Hakim, a resident of Taimani neighbourhood in Kabul, said the new government had taken some positive steps, but failed to meet the Cabinet deadline.

He urged the president to announce Cabinet members so that people’s problems could be resolved.

nh/ma

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