The Head of Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) for Hamid Karzai International Airport on Tuesday accused the Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) Shahzad Gul Aryoubi and his staff of asking for bribes in return for a job. 

ATRA employee, Janat Gul Ahmadzai, said he applied for a position at the ministry in May and sat the required exam organized by the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC).

According to him, he and 17 other applicants passed the first exam for the Directorate of Technology and Innovation position at the ministry. 

Ahmadzai said three of them were then short listed and wrote another exam. 

According to him he passed this test but was informed by the ministry via email that he had failed the exam. 

After receiving the email, Ahmadzai lodged a complaint with the IARCSC. He said the commission looked into his grievance and came back with their findings that Ahmadzai had in fact passed the exam and was qualified for the position. 

He said the IARCSC recommended him for the position and sent numerous letters to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. However, he claimed these letters were ignored. 

Eventually, the communication minister's adviser allegedly sent an email asking for a $15,000 payment in order to secure his appointment. 

Ahmadzai said he also received a text message from the phone believed to be that of the Communications Minister Shahzad Gul Aryoubi. In this message he was allegedly asked to pay $10,000 for his appointment. 

“I messaged to the phone number of minister. My message was replied and I was asked to pay money. I do not have money. I call on the president to ensure my rights and to ask the minister what happened. I am ready to go to all relevant departments to prove what I am saying,” said Ahmadzai. 

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology did not confirm or reject the accusations but said they have appointed a team to investigate the claims. 

“The ministry has appointed a team and the team will probe the issue and it will become clear what the problem is,” said Sayer Zaland, a spokesperson for MoCIT. 

Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) officials meanwhile said the legal and judicial centers need to investigate the allegations. 

Executive director of IWA Sayed Ikram Afzali said if the allegations prove to be true, then it will damage the reputation of the ministry and will be a clear indication of corruption.
 
“If the allegations are proven to be true, then it will put the communications ministry in a bad situation,” Afzali said.