Noor vows to defy Ghani’s decision and continue to work as Balkh governor

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The Chief Executive of Jamiat-e-Isalami Ata Mohammad Noor has vowed to defy the recent decision by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and continue working as the provincial governor of the northern Balkh province.

Speaking during a gathering in northern Balkh province, Noor said none one can dismiss him as the governor of Balkh province by issuing a decree, insisting that the political party he is representing is one of the main sides which played a key role in the formation of the government of national unity. He said the presidential elections in 2014 was one of the worst elections the country and was marred massively by fraud by it was the Jamiat-e-Islami which gave a legitimacy to the process.

According to Noor, he entered into negotiations with the government representing the strong stance of the Jamiat-e-Islami and not as an ordinary governor representing the Balkh province. He said the Jamiat party is the main piller of the unity government and no one can sideline him as an ordinary government employee, emphasizing that he will continue to his work as the governor of the Balkh province in a bid to prevent the spread of the Taliban and ISIS in Balkh

In other parts of his speech, Noor harshly cricized the Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and called him a ‘snake up in own sleeve’ and accused him of conspiring against the party which helped him reach to power. This comes as the Office of the President announced Monday that President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has approved the resignation of Balkh governor Ata Mohammad Noor.

The Office of the President in a statement said Mr. Noor had resigned from his position as the governor of Balkh province a while ago. The statement further added that President Ghani has approved his resignation and Engineer Mohammad Daud has been appointed as the new governor of Balkh province.

Meanwhile, Following President Ashraf Ghani’s decision to accept Atta Mohammad Noor’s resignation as Balkh governor, senior police officials from Balkh and Kandahar announced their support to Noor and said he should remain in his position.

In response to a query about the remarks by police officials, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak said police “must not be involved in politics”. “They (senior police officials in Balkh and Kandahar) did a mistake by announcing their stances (on Noor’s issue). Police should remain impartial and independent,” Barmak said in an interview with local news channel.

Meanwhile, a number of Kabul residents criticized the security officials over supporting Atta Mohammad Noor, saying that the issue should be addressed through negotiations. “We are in a bad situation. We need peace and consensus instead of disagreements,” a Kabul resident, Ahmad, said. “Anyone who has served their best must serve in government. Government officials should not take stance against each other,” Sulaiman, a resident of Kabul said. Heads of Kandahar and Zabul provincial councils meanwhile said the issue must be resolved through talks. “They (Ghani and Noor) should not provide the ground for crisis and war in Afghanistan and they should not be allowed to do so,” said Sayed Jan Khakrezwal, head of Kandahar Provincial Council. “The issue that has been raised between government and Jamiat-e-Islami party should be resolved through negotiations and Jirga (assembly),” head of Zabul Provincial Council.

This comes after police officials from Balkh and Kandahar provinces announced their support to Noor, insisting that he should remain as governor of Balkh. “Balkh is the only province where there is partial security and where the business community has investment trust; refugees go there, may Allah keep this province secure and safe so that problems are not created for the people,” Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq said on Thursday.

“The first person that will stand and sacrifice his life (in side of Noor) is me,” Abdul Razaq Qaderi, security officer at Balkh police chief’s office said at a gathering this week. “We stand by your (Noor) side until the last drop of our blood,” Hasibullah Quraishi, commander of Afghan Public Protection Forces in north of the country said this week.