Afghan Parliament Approves five of Nominated Ministers

Tuesday, 29 June 2010 10:15

The Afghan parliament approved on Monday five presidential nominees to fill cabinet seats, including the key post of Interior Minister
Gen. Bismellah Mohammadi, the former chief of the army staff, was accepted as the Afghan Interior Minister, replacing Mohammad Hanif Atmar.

President Karzai submitted seven Minister Candidates for 12 empty cabinet posts, and each needed to win 111 votes from the 220 parliamentarians in the lower house.

Abdul Qudus Hamidi was appointed as the Minister of Public Works, and Jamayer Anwari as Minister of Refugees and Repatriation.

Two nominees, Sarwar Danish for Ministry of Higher Education, and Dr. Dawoud Ali Najafi for Ministry of Transportation and aviation, failed to win the approval vote.

The rejection of 17 Minister Candidates by the Afghan Parliamentarians was seen as a huge impact to the Karzai’s authority.