KABUL (SW) – Analysts are concerned over growing rift among presidential candidates and the government over recent developments.
In conversation with Salam Watandar, Mohammad Ishaq Atmar, analyst on political affairs, said President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is responsible for the growing rift. He said only six months are left for the proposed presidential polls, but the President has initiated an extensive drive of hiring and firing officials that has sparked the unrest among the candidates.
He warned of serious repurcussions if the President failed to take swift measures in stopping this drive.
Muhibullah Sharif, an analyst on economic affairs, also expressed concerns over the state of affairs. He said these measures by the President has resulted in confrontation between the government and the presidential candidates. He feared if the rampant hiring and firing of officials continued it would leave negative impacts on the forthcoming elections.
Sharif went on to say such a situation would seriously undermine the electoral process and credibility of the Afghan state in the eyes of the international community.
However, an expert on legal affairs, Abdul Subhan Misbah, argued the President is authorized by the Constitution to hire and fire officials. He stressed the electoral commission needs to device mechanism in this regard.
Shah Hussain Murtazawi, deputy spokesman for the president, has rejected these allegations. He added the President has instead issued clear directives barring government officials from interfering with the electoral process. Murtazawi noted the government is only in favor of healthy competition, not intrusion in the electoral process.
The Article 64 of the Constitution has clearly marked the authorities of the President.
ENDS
