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Ismail Khan Agrees Noor Should Stay On As Governor

Mohammad Ismail Khan, a former Jihadi leader and a member of the leadership team of the Jamiat-e-Islami party, on Sunday said at a press conference in Herat that he supported Atta Mohammad Noor’s defiance regarding the Presidential Palace's decision to replace him and insisted that Noor should stay on as Balkh governor. 

Last week the Presidential Palace announced it had accepted a letter of resignation that Noor had signed months ago but Noor refused to accept the decision and said he will stay on as governor. 

Meanwhile a number of lawyers implied President Ashraf Ghani’s decision was a political move and said Noor had submitted his resignation letter months ago as part of negotiations with the president. They said the fact that Ghani only now approved the resignation was nothing but a calculated political move.

Khan also stated that by removing Jihadi figures from government bodies, the NUG has created a circle within government that will stand against them.  

“You know that the First Vice President is in exile and government is opposed to its governor (Noor) and police chief (of Kandahar, Gen. Raziq). Also, there are other disagreements in government and we are worried that these tensions will create another crisis for Afghanistan,” Khan said. 

According to him, removing influential figures from government, especially those from the northern Balkh province, will have a negative impact on security. 

“Noor’s removal from Balkh will be followed by the expansion of insecurity and Daesh and Taliban presence in the province. Removing Noor is the continuation of the (practice of dismissals) in politics which will have no outcome except increase disagreements,” he added. 

Khan also raised the issue of tension between the Presidential Palace and Noor and said there is no legal reason against Ghani's decision about Noor but that Noor should not give up his seat as governor.

“The president has remained calm so far and I appreciate it and I hope he shows more restraint in this regard until the issue gets resolved and a third option should not be sought by any of the parties,” Khan said. 

Noor submitted his resignation letter to Ghani six months ago - during their negotiations which according to him had many preconditions in place before he would resign as Balkh governor. Noor has claimed that these conditions were not met and as such he has refused to step down as governor.

Questions have also meanwhile been raised as to why it took Ghani so long to accept the resignation.

But one lawyer, Aziz Noori said a letter of resignation is valid for up to one month after the date its issued. If after this period it has not been approved or rejected, then the letter becomes invalid.

Meanwhile a number of parliament members urged Jamiat-e-Islami party members to stay calm and resolve the tensions through negotiations. 

“Government should practice unity and prevent ethnic division. Government should review the approval of the Balkh governor's resignation,” MP Gulalai Akbari said. 

“If a governor does not obey the president, then if the governors of the 34 provinces get dismissed, they will all ask for rights from government. They will ask for seats or for a ministry,” MP Fawzia Sadat Samkanai said. 

Noor meanwhile said on Saturday at a gathering in Mazar-e-Sharif that the NUG does not have the authority to oust him as governor.  

Noor said only Jamiat-e-Islami party has the authority to decide on his fate and if they ask him to leave Balkh, he will do so. 

Noor also said if he and government fail to come to an agreement, he will stay on as Balkh governor until the NUG is dissolved.  

Ismail Khan Agrees Noor Should Stay On As Governor

Ismail Khan has come out in support of Noor and said the NUG is acting in contravention of the constitution.

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Mohammad Ismail Khan, a former Jihadi leader and a member of the leadership team of the Jamiat-e-Islami party, on Sunday said at a press conference in Herat that he supported Atta Mohammad Noor’s defiance regarding the Presidential Palace's decision to replace him and insisted that Noor should stay on as Balkh governor. 

Last week the Presidential Palace announced it had accepted a letter of resignation that Noor had signed months ago but Noor refused to accept the decision and said he will stay on as governor. 

Meanwhile a number of lawyers implied President Ashraf Ghani’s decision was a political move and said Noor had submitted his resignation letter months ago as part of negotiations with the president. They said the fact that Ghani only now approved the resignation was nothing but a calculated political move.

Khan also stated that by removing Jihadi figures from government bodies, the NUG has created a circle within government that will stand against them.  

“You know that the First Vice President is in exile and government is opposed to its governor (Noor) and police chief (of Kandahar, Gen. Raziq). Also, there are other disagreements in government and we are worried that these tensions will create another crisis for Afghanistan,” Khan said. 

According to him, removing influential figures from government, especially those from the northern Balkh province, will have a negative impact on security. 

“Noor’s removal from Balkh will be followed by the expansion of insecurity and Daesh and Taliban presence in the province. Removing Noor is the continuation of the (practice of dismissals) in politics which will have no outcome except increase disagreements,” he added. 

Khan also raised the issue of tension between the Presidential Palace and Noor and said there is no legal reason against Ghani's decision about Noor but that Noor should not give up his seat as governor.

“The president has remained calm so far and I appreciate it and I hope he shows more restraint in this regard until the issue gets resolved and a third option should not be sought by any of the parties,” Khan said. 

Noor submitted his resignation letter to Ghani six months ago - during their negotiations which according to him had many preconditions in place before he would resign as Balkh governor. Noor has claimed that these conditions were not met and as such he has refused to step down as governor.

Questions have also meanwhile been raised as to why it took Ghani so long to accept the resignation.

But one lawyer, Aziz Noori said a letter of resignation is valid for up to one month after the date its issued. If after this period it has not been approved or rejected, then the letter becomes invalid.

Meanwhile a number of parliament members urged Jamiat-e-Islami party members to stay calm and resolve the tensions through negotiations. 

“Government should practice unity and prevent ethnic division. Government should review the approval of the Balkh governor's resignation,” MP Gulalai Akbari said. 

“If a governor does not obey the president, then if the governors of the 34 provinces get dismissed, they will all ask for rights from government. They will ask for seats or for a ministry,” MP Fawzia Sadat Samkanai said. 

Noor meanwhile said on Saturday at a gathering in Mazar-e-Sharif that the NUG does not have the authority to oust him as governor.  

Noor said only Jamiat-e-Islami party has the authority to decide on his fate and if they ask him to leave Balkh, he will do so. 

Noor also said if he and government fail to come to an agreement, he will stay on as Balkh governor until the NUG is dissolved.  

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