Lawmakers in Afghanistan’s parliament on Monday accused National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib, First Vice President Amrullah Saleh and First Lady Rula Ghani of insulting the legislative body of the country, suggesting that it would be better to shut the doors of the house if the government is not willing to implement the decisions of the house.
They said that even Kabul mayor Daud Sultanzoi has insulted the parliament.
The lawmakers also accused President Ashraf Ghani of dictatorship, saying members of the Supreme Court of Afghanistan are implementing Ghani’s orders without legal justification.
Parliament speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani said that the Kabul mayor, who is allegedly involved in a major corruption case, has also refused to appear in the House and respond.
They called on the government to request that Sultanzoi step down from his post.
This comes several days after Ghani asked Minister of Public Health Ahmad Jawad Osmani to step down from his post. The move sparked a strong backlash among Ghani’s critics.
“Ghani, Bibi Gul (Rula Ghani), and Mohib have brutally fired the minister of health from his job,” said MP Ziauddin Zia.
“Those ministers who were rejected from the parliament still continue their jobs, but the minister who was a legitimate minister was forced to step down with insults,” said Habiburrahman Pedram, an MP.
“There is a confrontation of the house of the people (parliament) with a man who is accused of corruption and who has other shameful cases--such as the Gulistan township case--in his background,” said parliament speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani.
Some MPs meanwhile accused their colleagues of trying to create discord between govt and parliament.
“There are some people here in the house who want to create confrontation between the govt and the parliament,” said another MP Naseer Farahi.
The Presidential Palace responded: “The president has respected the recommendations and demands of the national assembly members, he has held most of his meetings with them, we hope that our relations move ahead in the view of the current situations,” said Dawa Khan Menapal, deputy spokesman to Ghani.
The speaker of parliament called on the government to respect the principle of the three branches of government by introducing three remaining members to the Supreme Court and the cabinet.