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Decree Involving NSC in Hiring of Police Chiefs Sparks Criticism

A presidential decree calling for the Ministry of Interior Affairs to appoint district police chiefs in coordination with the Office of the National Security Council faced criticism by analysts who see it as an interference in the Interior Affairs Ministry’s activities.

The decree was issued in March.

“The National Security Council’s office is a consultative and coordinating authority. It is not defined in the Constitution; but ministries, particularly ministries of the security sector, are responsive to Parliament. Their main duties are ensuring security and rule of law and there shouldn’t be interference in their activities,” said Jawed Kohistani, an analyst.

Sources told TOLOnews that the decree has been recently sent to the Interior Affairs Ministry and a delegation from the National Security Council has gone to the ministry which has started assessing appointments of police officials.

“If this goes through--that any activity should be one in consultation with the security council--then they should appoint a minister whom they trust. This creates an environment of mistrust,” said Shahzada Massoud, a former adviser to former president Hamid Karzai.

“Everyone works for their own interests. The president tries to manage things in his favor. No one is thinking about the nation,” said Hekmatullah Salehi, a journalist.

Police recruitment law says that the appointment of district police chiefs, including high-ranking officers, is the authority of the minister, deputy ministers and heads of departments of the Ministry of Interior Affairs. But the government said the decree has been issued for reforms and merit-based appointments.

“It is to prevent unnecessary external interferences so that they are not under pressure by any institution and so that appointments are done based on the law,” presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

“The presidential decree is based on the recruitment law of officers. The National Security Council is consulted about the appointment of (police) commanders… This can help in improving the security situation,” Interior Affairs Ministry’s spokesman Tariq Arian said.

Decree Involving NSC in Hiring of Police Chiefs Sparks Criticism

Presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the decree was intended to enable reforms in the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

تصویر بندانگشتی

A presidential decree calling for the Ministry of Interior Affairs to appoint district police chiefs in coordination with the Office of the National Security Council faced criticism by analysts who see it as an interference in the Interior Affairs Ministry’s activities.

The decree was issued in March.

“The National Security Council’s office is a consultative and coordinating authority. It is not defined in the Constitution; but ministries, particularly ministries of the security sector, are responsive to Parliament. Their main duties are ensuring security and rule of law and there shouldn’t be interference in their activities,” said Jawed Kohistani, an analyst.

Sources told TOLOnews that the decree has been recently sent to the Interior Affairs Ministry and a delegation from the National Security Council has gone to the ministry which has started assessing appointments of police officials.

“If this goes through--that any activity should be one in consultation with the security council--then they should appoint a minister whom they trust. This creates an environment of mistrust,” said Shahzada Massoud, a former adviser to former president Hamid Karzai.

“Everyone works for their own interests. The president tries to manage things in his favor. No one is thinking about the nation,” said Hekmatullah Salehi, a journalist.

Police recruitment law says that the appointment of district police chiefs, including high-ranking officers, is the authority of the minister, deputy ministers and heads of departments of the Ministry of Interior Affairs. But the government said the decree has been issued for reforms and merit-based appointments.

“It is to prevent unnecessary external interferences so that they are not under pressure by any institution and so that appointments are done based on the law,” presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

“The presidential decree is based on the recruitment law of officers. The National Security Council is consulted about the appointment of (police) commanders… This can help in improving the security situation,” Interior Affairs Ministry’s spokesman Tariq Arian said.

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