A number of members of the Wolesi Jirga (the Lower House of Parliament) on Saturday said in reaction to the ongoing tension between Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor and the Presidential Palace that positions in government are not inherited and that the appointment and dismissal of officials is a legal principle in governance. 

However, other MPs accused President Ashraf Ghani of not fulfilling the National Unity Government's (NUG) political agreement and said the dismissal of Noor as Balkh governor and reported efforts to dismiss the Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq was not the right thing to do.  

Some MPs said if Noor and Raziq are dismissed, the security situation will deteriorate in Balkh and Kandahar provinces. 

“If Noor or Raziq are dismissed at this time, I tell you insecurity will increase there (Balkh and Kandahar),” MP Hazrat Ali said. 

“We should be proud of these individuals, no candidates can fill their places,” MP Sarwar Osmani Farahi said. 

But other MPs said Noor is a good person, but that he needs to support the law. According to them, the dismissal of these individuals would not affect the country’s overall security situation. 

“Noor is a good person and everyone respects him and he is proud. But we should support the law,” Mohammad Nazir Ahmadzai, parliament's second deputy speaker said. 

“He (Noor) is a person and can do nothing. The Afghan people are now alert,” MP Razia Mangal said. 

“When the president dismisses someone, it does not mean that everyone should interfere in government affairs,” MP Lailuma Hakimi said. 

The Presidential Palace last week approved Noor’s resignation letter and appointed Mohammad Dawood, a member of Jamiat-e-Islami party, as his successor. But Noor has refused to accept his ousting and said the letter dates back a few months, when he made requests to the president, which were not fulfilled.