KABUL - Some members of Meshrano Jirga or upper house of parliament rued on Sunday that merit criteria had been totally trampled following new appointments at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), National Directorate of Security (NDS) and other departments, which tend to navigate the country on path to more crisis.
Last week Mohammad Masoum Stanikzai was introduced as acting defence minister by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Lt. Gen. Qadam Shah and Lt. Gen. Abdul Khaliq were appointed as chief of army and deputy defence minister respectively.
Dr. Sami Fazl, senator from Baghlan, said he was against such appointments since they were not competent. Mohammad Azim Qoyash, senator from Sar-i-Pul, said: “Recently we witness some movements by government leaders that are as dangerous as the movements of Taliban and Daesh.”
“Some leaders have caused political assassination. A disabled cannot lead a war,” he said referring to Masoum Stanikzai.
Jumaudin Gayanwal also criticized government’s hiring policy. “Someone has been hired in office of the administrative affairs as head of international relations. Despite being called Solaimankhail, that person still cannot speak in any of our national languages.”
He did not take the mentioned person’s complete name but said Solaimankhail only knew English and Urdu.
Sher Mohammad Akhundzada, another member of the house, said: “Solaimankhail was only hired because of campaigning for president during elections.”
He added most of the newly-appointed officials were the ones who had campaigned for president and CEO during the elections.
“Some provinces had two ministers while some provinces did not even have a director or deputy minister,” said Muhayuddin Munsif another member.
He added balance was not taken into consideration in appointment of officials, asking the leaders to reconsider the educated youth who have been neglected.
Mohammad Alam Ezidyar, first deputy of the upper house, said: “The leaders should consider merit in hiring employees.”
“Continuation of such appointments is against our national interests and would take the country to crisis,” he continued.
Ezidyar urged the leaders of the unity government not to appoint those who are not familiar with the country’s culture and national languages. (Pajhwok)