Senators refer Health Minister, Adviser to AGO

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Afghan senators at a meeting lodged a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) against Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz and presidential adviser Waheed Omer, accusing them of a lack of responsiveness and lack of transparency in the fight against the coronavirus in the country.

The two officials were summoned by the Meshrano Jirga, the Afghan senate, but neither appeared at the parliament hearing.

One senator said that the officials’ failure to show was in itself an example of the ministry’s poor management. “Lack of management in the Ministry of Public Health resulted in the minister and Mr. Omer not coming here,” said Nadir Baloch, head of the public welfare committee of the Meshrano Jirga.

“The government–in a letter from the Ministry of Public Health–explained the reasons, which were health reasons. The government is ready to respond,” said Latif Mahmoud, a presidential spokesman.

The two officials reacted on Twitter to the senate’s move.

“Thank you for the love of the Senate,” Feroz said, “I am warning once again that coming together in one room — and by legislators — is an unforgivable sin.”

Omer tweeted that appearing at the senate hearing would go against the very health advice that the public health minister was promoting.

“We will brief the representatives of the nation at a suitable opportunity, far from the coronavirus threat,” he added.

“The public health minister’s attendance in every session is not necessary,” said Wahidullah Majroh, the deputy minister of public health. (TOLOnews)