KABUL - Firs Vice President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum on Thursday hit out at President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani for centralising the power and warned to take final decision about his future in a grand gathering.
Addressing a crowd of his supporters in his Kabul residence, Dostum said the president kept all powers with him and apologised to his followers for not materialising the pledges he made with them during election campaign.
“I want to talk to the people in details. I am the son of a farmer, lived my life in a village and worked in the field, but now I cannot resolved the problems of my people. Some ask me why you don’t go to the office. What will I do there when I have no power and my signature has no impact,” said the first Vice-President.
Dostum claimed Ghani enjoyed power to appoint heads of nine independent commission, district chiefs, provincial police chiefs and chiefs of police districts. He questioned, was it justice?
The head of Jumbish political party and former defence minister said in line with constitutions the power of decision making at council of ministers, and security institutions should be with the vice president but currently the National Security Council (NSC) was responsible for it.
Dostum during election campaign promised to the masses that he was not an engineer or economist to work in these areas but he was a fighter and pledged to bring stability and improved law and order situation.
He said over the past one and half-year he presented different action plans to eliminate militancy and bring stability to the country in the NSC meetings, but no plan was given importance.
In reference to the recent difference between President Ghani and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah, he said the unity government deal should be implemented.
The Loya Jirga should be called to bring changes in the constitution and the government system should be changed from presidential to parliamentary, he believed.(Pajhwok)