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ARG states Ghani has the right to summarily dismiss a minister
Following questions raised over the legitimacy of President Ashraf Ghani’s move to fire public health minister Ahmad Jawad Osmani this week, the Presidential Palace (ARG) stated the president has the authority to dismiss senior government officials as he sees fit.
Osmani was fired this week after a number of public health ministry officials were arrested on charges of corruption.
ARG noted in the statement: “According to Article 64, Item 11 of the Constitution of Afghanistan, the President has the authority to appoint and dismiss senior government officials. The constitution is clear on this.”
ARG also confirmed that Osmani was fired on December 31 as per presidential Decree 13969.
The decision does not need to be “further discussed or reviewed,” read the statement adding that an acting minister would soon be appointed.
Earlier in the week, ARG stated Osmani had resigned but in a video message Osmani refuted the claim and said he had been asked to step down but had refused.
He stated the “president asked me to resign and I told him there are no legal obstacles to me continuing my work. But today a letter has been sent from the Administration Office [of the president] stating as if the resignation as minister of public health has been approved… this is a political plot.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of Jamiat Party Atta Mohammad Noor slammed Ghani over the move and said “Ghani’s act was illegal and against the [principles of] democracy.”
Noor said his party is holding consultations over Ghani’s move and will announce its “stance” at a later stage.
Two people have been killed amid protests against a poppy eradication campaign in northeastern Badakhshan province, local officials said.
Authorities said counter-narcotics forces were deployed on Friday to Atan Jalo area of Argo district to destroy poppy fields. Clashes erupted after a number of farmers and residents reportedly attempted to block the operation.
Officials said a child was killed during Friday’s unrest, while another person died on Saturday as protests and tensions continued in the area.
According to local authorities, demonstrators also temporarily blocked the Kishm–Faizabad highway, disrupting traffic for several hours before it was reopened following coordinated efforts by security officials, religious scholars, and community elders.
Officials blamed “drug traffickers and criminal groups” for inciting the unrest and said security forces have since regained control of the area.
A high-ranking Uzbek delegation comprising government officials and private sector representatives from the Republic of Karakalpakstan arrived in Kabul on Saturday to discuss the expansion of trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
The delegation is headed by Amanbay Orinbayev, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Karakalpakstan.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the delegation is expected to hold talks with Nooruddin Azizi, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, focusing on strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations.
The ministry said the visiting delegation will also participate in trade connectivity meetings and business-to-business sessions aimed at enhancing commercial cooperation between the two sides.
As part of the visit, the Uzbek delegation is also scheduled to travel to Balkh province, where members will attend additional trade meetings and inaugurate an exhibition showcasing Uzbekistan’s domestic products.
Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, has expressed concern over recent developments along the Durand Line, saying Pakistan has increased military and economic pressure on villages and residents living near the line.
In a statement, Karzai said the apparent purpose of these pressures is to push residents of Durand Line areas to seek help from Pakistani institutions for resolving security and other local issues.
He added that, amid this situation, some tribal elders from both sides of the Durand Line recently signed documents described as “peace agreements,” which were later officially welcomed by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Karzai, these developments amount to an effort by Pakistan to legitimize the Durand Line and represent an action against Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
The former Afghan president also urged the relevant Afghan authorities to provide the public with a clear explanation regarding the recent agreements and developments along the Durand Line.
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