Resigned under pressure, says president’s deputy spokesman

KABUL (Pajhwok): Deputy presidential spokesman Najibullah Azad on Wednesday said he resigned under high pressure from “a specific circle,” but the Presidential Palace said that Azad had been sacked.

Azad, addressing a press conference here, said: “I was appointed nine months ago as deputy spokesman of the president. During this period, I witnessed some questionable activities of a specific circle in the Presidential Palace. I was not allowed to speak to the media.”

“I noticed this specific circle was showing negatively the president’s achievements and preferred relations over merit,” he said, but did not name the circle.

Azad said he sent his resignation to the president 31 days ago after he was not allowed to do his duty with unjustified reasons and the same circle prevented his resignation letter from reaching the president.

He warned to share ‘documents and evidence’ with the media about his prevention to meet the president.

However, Shah Hussain Murtazavi, acting spokesman to the president, on his Facebook page wrote that Azad was fired due to his continued absence.

Without giving information as to when Azad was removed, he said Azad no longer represented the Presidential Palace in the media.

Najibullah Azad is a resident of southeastern Paktia province and he has a master’s degree in administration and management and bachelor’s degree in English literature.

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