KABUL (SW): A source at the Attorney General Office, told Salam Watandar that based on a decree issued by the President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on those staffers who have reached the age of retirement, many could still have their contracts extended for different reasons. They are expected to retire by the end of the current year.
The source said that the dismissal also included 20 persecutors who were accused of poor performances. Canceling observatory offices and business department, which were parallel offices and were active beyond their responsibilities, are part of the reform process which would take place in the structure of Attorney General Office.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, said on the day he was taking oath, that he would bring fundamental reforms in all judicial institutions. Cancelling several offices at the AGO, a professional institute would be established within the structure of the Attorney General Office by next year and those prosecutors who are focused on dealing with the crimes that are committed through banking or the internet would get proper trainings.
Changes and reforms in the structure of the Attorney General Office, would also include appointment of prosecutors who are only graduates but the reform would not include those who are not educated and worked in the judicial system of the country. The new law says that only those who have graduated from law faculty or Islamic Studies faculty could enter judicial system to work as prosecutors in the courts and attorney general offices in the country.
The source added that nearly 1000 staff in the capital and provinces are either graduates or work in the judicial institutions of the country, while their fields of studies are in dire contrast to their positions in the judicial institutions. The source further added that recently a commission has been established to evaluate the level of education as well as the quality of performance done by the AGO across the country. This commission would release the report of those staff who have reached the age of retirement but still work in their positions so that to replace them with fresh, talented and professional young staff.
One of the promises the President made was to increase the salary of prosecutors and the promise would be implemented as soon as the new reform plan for judicial systems develops. The plane would be sent to the parliament for approval. Currently, the monthly salary of the prosecutors are afn 21000 but based on the new law, any prosecutor who hold a bachelor degree either in law or Islamic studies would get afn 81000 per month.
The source said that despite all these reforms, which would be brought, counter-corruption is one of the priorities of the judicial system. Currently a prosecutor who has been accused of counterfeiting documents and misusing his responsibility has been arrested in the capital. As much as 80 prosecutors have been warned and the cases of 17 others have been sent to the Attorney General Office.
Zahir Hashemi, an expert in law, said that bringing reforms in judicial system of the country would be effective for the performance of the Attorney General Office if the fired prosecutors were to be replaced by the more professional and competent ones. He believed that the Government of National Unity has been divided between the President and Chief Executive Officer and they appoint people not based on their competency but because of contacts and relations.
ENDS
