Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Cabinet Minister Stopped from Boarding a Flight in Kabul

Cabinet Minister Stopped  from Boarding a Flight in Kabul

KABUL - Ali Ahmad Osmani was prevented from attending the inauguration ceremony of two electricity projects in Balkh.
The Minister of Water and Energy Ali Ahmad Osmani was stopped on Thursday from travelling through Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to northern Balkh province.
Osmani was expected in Balkh’s Khulm and Marmul districts for the inauguration of two electricity projects when security officials at the airport stopped him from boarding a flight.
Ministry sources speaking on condition of anonymity said security officials reportedly acted against Osmani on the orders of the Presidential Palace.
However, neither the Presidential Palace nor the office of the CEO Abdullah Abdullah were prepared to comment on the issue.
The ministry of interior would also not comment. 
In reaction, the deputy head of parliament’s internal security commission described the issue as shameful, saying if Osmani is accused of any kind of corruption, he must be investigated by the legal and judicial institutions of the country.
“It’s shameful and unfortunate that a president stops his minister and is seen to be in some sort of rivalry or competition with him. The minister was on his way to inaugurate the projects and he did not commit any illegal action. If a minister is accused of corruption or any other legal problem, government can refer him to the legal and judicial institutions,” said parliament’s internal security deputy chief Abdul Hai Akhundzada.
Meanwhile MP Farhad Majidi has accused President Ashraf Ghani of repression and warned that such action could spark retaliation by the Afghan people.
“This is repression. Laws of Afghanistan have not authorized the president to impose restrictions on Afghan citizens,” said Majidi.
“He is not a devoted minister, therefore Mr. Ghani is resorting to hostile actions,” said political analyst Asif Ashna.
A while back, there were rumors that the Presidential Palace had prevented Osmani from attending the inauguration of the TAPI gas pipeline project. However, government rejected the rumors. (Tolo news)