The Jamiat-e-Islami party is waiting for government’s response on the offered list of its demands, sources within Jamiat leadership said Sunday. The backdoor negotiations were held seven times aimed at finding a political solution to the rift between the two sides.
Sources say Jamiat-e-Islami has offered a 12-article proposal to government. The suggestions include amendment in the election law, changing of the current political system, convening the Constitutional Loya Jirga, the grand assembly, and rolling out the electronic national identity cards based on the law previously approved.
The sources however claimed that the Presidential Palace has accepted majority of the demands by Jamiat.
“The negotiations are moving on in the face of the concerns by the people. The talks are hopefully moving towards a logical settlement. Last night (Sunday night), Minister of Interior (Wais Ahmad Barmak) once again travelled to Balkh. If God willing, the issue will be resolved,” Meshrano Jirga, Upper House of Parliament, Speaker Mohammad Alam Ezedyar said.
While the controversy over the ousting of Noor as Balkh governor moves on, a number of political commentators have called on both parties to step up efforts for a peaceful and diplomatic settlement of the issue.
“I call on the president to enter into dialogue and see in what extent he (Noor) can honor these recommendations and what are the areas he cannot do it. It is not logical that the president does not focus on the demands of Jamiat or Atta Mohammad Noor and instead sends a person with no fame to Balkh,” said political analyst Fatana Gailani, referring to engineer Mohammad Dawoud who was recently appointed as successor to Noor by the president.
“Jamiat-e-Islami has conducted seven rounds of talks with the representative of government. Members of the delegation have said government has endorsed majority of the demands. However no written guarantee has been received so far,” said Sediqa Balkhi, a lawmaker.
On Sunday Noor warned that he would pay the salaries of civil servants in Balkh from the revenues of Hairatan Port if government invalidates his signature.
He also called on the officials of Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) to refrain making a comment on him.
He said the IDLG is not in a position to comment on the ongoing tension between him and the Presidential Palace.
The IDLG has said that Noor’s signature is no longer credible in Balkh.
“They said that they will not pay the salaries on the signature of the governor. Do not dare to commit this mistake as it will be your next mistake. I am sure my signature still has the credibility. If you compelled me, I will pay the salaries directly from hundreds of millions of dollars which come from Hairatan Port,” said Noor.
Meanwhile, some members of Meshrano Jirga, Upper House of Parliament, on Sunday said the tension between President Ashraf Ghani and Atta Mohammad Noor, the CEO of Jamiat-e-Islami Party and the ousted governor of Balkh, should be solved through dialogue.
“Atta Mohammad Noor’s issue is not a problem of an ordinary person or an employee (of government). He (Noor) visits 2,000 to 8,000 people every day,” Gulalai Akbari, a senator, said.
“The leaders of the national unity government must consider the interests of the nation when it comes to this matter,” Deputy Speaker of Meshrano Jirga Mohammad Alam Ezidyar said.
Meshrano Jirga Speaker Fazil Hadi Muslimyar meanwhile asked his colleagues not to support Atta Mohammad Noor.
“Atta Mohmmad Noor is an ordinary government employee… No one in the house should talk about taking side of someone,” said Muslimyar.