KABUL (SW): The ministers for defense, interior and the spymaster on Monday survived the vote of confidence in the Wolesi Jirga (lower house).
Defense Minister Gen. Abdullah Habibi, Minister for Interior Taj Mohammad Jahed, and Chief of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) Mohammad Masoum Stanikzai were summoned by the house over surging terrorist attacks in the country. All of them managed to earn the confidence of the majority of the parliamentarians.
A total of 202 members of the house were present in the house. Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, speaker of the house, said the Defense Minister earned 106 votes in his favor while 88 against him, Minister for Interior received 120 votes in his favor and 75 against him while the NDS Chief bagged 129 votes in his support and 66 against him.
At the start of the session, parliamentarians stressed that the fragile situation in the country requires a sensible decision from the house. Members said a delegation from the NATO is expected to visit Afghanistan which would decide about future aid and support for the country hence it would not be wise to impeach the security sector ministers now.
The Oversight Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution had sent a letter to the house noting that the house cannot impeach heads of the key organisations, but the WJ went ahead with the vote of confidence on the fate of the NDS Chief among other ministers.
ENDS
