Bypassing Parliament to rule

Has the government of national unity made a mockery of the law that acting ministers must get parliamentary approval within two months?

Appointments of high-ranking officials and ministers have been repeatedly extended as “caretakers” and “acting ministers” respectively in blatant disregard of Parliament’s power.

Has the government of national unity made a mockery of the law that acting ministers must get parliamentary approval within two months?

Appointments of high-ranking officials and ministers have been repeatedly extended as “caretakers” and “acting ministers” respectively in blatant disregard of Parliament’s power. This has also encouraged the pernicious practice of nominees bribing lawmakers to vote for them.

Activist Nafisa Ferotan wishes the government would “think a bit about the nation” and take “practical steps” to end the illegal practice. Political analyst Naweed Elham observes, “People expect government institutions, specifically the legislative and executive, to take action and resolve the problem of caretaking. MPs (members of Parliament) should take decisive steps to complete cabinet formation by confirming the introduced individuals (the government’s nominees). Parliament should also take the job of supervising subordinate institutions seriously and also put in place reformist viewpoints.”

The current reality is that Afghans are suffering because of the weakened executive and legislature. Qadria, an ordinary citizen who says she put her faith in the ballot box, is scathing in her opinion of the government. “These were the people who had promised to construct the gardens of heaven,” she says. “No doubt positive evolutions cannot take place through optimistic statements!” she sarcastically adds. She told Killid that “people were waiting actions that they can feel will bring changes in their lives (and) go to bed without any worry about tomorrow.”

For some political watchers, the best way yet would be cooperation between President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

Ali Reza Hasani, a lecturer at Gawharshad private university believes “government leaders should stop selfish obstinacies for the sake of power, and think instead about people”. He says there has to be coordination at the top leadership level and among high-ranking officials to save people from the present “tough situation” or else they may “lose their patience and side with irresponsibility”. Warning that the situation could go irretrievably out of hand, he says the weak government would be at fault.

Demand accountability

On Mar 26, Yusuf Nooristani, chief of the Independent Election Commission, stepped down citing personal reasons. His resignation was accepted by the government. He had repeatedly accused the government of meddling with the independence of the Election Commission but refused to accept blame for failing to prevent fraud in the bitterly contested 2014 presidential poll. Will these charges against him be dropped?

There are also reports of two other resignations: Dawood Shah Saba, the minister of mines and petroleum, and Helmand governor, Mirza Khan Rahimi, a Ghani-appointee.

Again no reasons have been given, sparking criticism that the two should be prosecuted for abandoning their constitutional duties.

Political analyst Hafiz Hamidi says, “Were a government official to resign in any other country there has to be a clear reason. People have the right to know. Should the resignation by the official be in the wake of corruption charges, the individual must be prosecuted. Resignation cannot end the legal process.”

According to Adela Habib, a resident of Herat, resignation has become a way for corrupt officials to escape the law. “This is a land without interrogation,” says Habib. “If someone fails to deliver on responsibilities or is accused of administrative corruption, a signature on a resignation (letter) means the closure of all files and dossiers (investigating the charges). We have been a frequent witness to high-ranking officials resigning and getting away scot free. They either return to ordinary life inside the country or shelter outside. Sometimes they move to another post (in the government) and continue to embezzle.”