Ousted Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor has lashed out at the CEO of the National Unity Government (NUG) Abdullah Abdullah, and said that “we will show our power.”

Last week President Ashraf Ghani accepted a months old resignation letter of Noor - who has since refused to step down. 

Noor has said his party, Jamiat-e-Islami, must decide on his fate. 

“He had no answers to our questions and has nothing to say. If he opens his mouth, I have a lot to say,” Noor said in reference to Abdullah who was at a gathering in Mazar-e-Sharif city, capital of Balkh on Tuesday. 

Noor said he believes that several political figures like Ahmad Zia Massoud, the president’s former special representative for reforms and good governance; Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, First Vice President; Bismillah Khan Mohammad, former defence minister and Ismail Khan, former jihadi leader and Minister of Water and Energy have been sidelined by the government and now there are plots against him, adding that Abdullah “betrayed” him.

“(President) Ghani is not the only one who is involved in plots against me and it is Abdullah who was mostly involved and betrayed (me),” Noor said. 

“We will show the power to them… we will break the head and the teeth of the bully,” he said.

Noor’s comments come two days after Abdullah broke his silence over the saga and said: “I always said that it must not happen but it was decided 15 days before the announcement.”

“Accepting of Noor's resignation was President Ghani's move. I always said that it must not happen but it was decided 15 days before the announcement. I hope this issue is solved without any problems,” Abdullah said.

“The resignation was not my decision,” he said adding that this issue must be resolved peacefully so as to not affect the system. 

He also said that: “Unfortunately we have missed opportunities in the past three years but it does not mean we have not made an effort.”

He believes that the NUG agreement has not been fully implemented but the formation of such a government was needed. 

“We are thinking about people's interests, flexibility does not mean that this is a weakness,” he pointed said. 

Noor was however adamanent that despite government's attempt to oust him as provincial governor, he was still Balkh's leader. 

He said that he had not been appointed by "official letters (decree)" and could therefore not be fired by "letters". 

Noor said he has told the Presidential Palace on many occasions that they cannot forcibly remove him as Balkh governor. 

He said at the time of the NUG’s establishment he had discussed the division of seats in cabinet and had played an active role in the negotiations. He said there were ministerial positions that should have been filled by Jamiat members.

Abdullah is a Jamiat-e-Islami party member, Noor said adding that the party had the right to change its candidate.

But Noor was adamant that he would stay on as Balkh governor until such time as Jamiat decided otherwise. He says his reason for staying on as governor is to make sure development in Balkh continues and that Daesh is prevented from taking a foothold in the province.

Noor thanked all those who had come out in support of him in the past weeks and said the First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum said his forces were ready to support Noor if needed. He also said he received the same support from second deputy CEO Mohaqeq and police of Kandahar, Gen. Abdul Raziq.

He said the Presidential Palace and the CEO's office must not use the international community and foreign forces to put pressure on him.