KABUL (PAN): Minister-designate for the Ministry of Hajj and Islamic Affairs Inayatullah Baligh on Saturday promised to kick out corrupt officials from the ministry as part of his campaign against corruption in next five years. Seeking a vote of confidence from the Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of Parliament, Baligh said he would look into the experiences of neighbouring countries for sending Afghan pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj. "I will make appointments on merit and am against corruption," Baligh said adding that he would strive to recover the official land allegedly grabbed by warlords. But, he did not name any one. The minister-designate briefed the house about his future programmes, saying promotion of Islamic culture, introduction of religious programmes for media outlets, improvement in relations with neighbouring counties and holding Quranic classes in schools would be his plans in next five years. Born in 1955 in central Kapisa province, Baligh received his high education from an Arabic seminary in Kabul and later graduated from the Sharia Faculty of Kabul University. He served as Deputy Governor of Kapisa and Director of the Darul Insha in the same province from 1980 to 1992. He also served as administrative head of the Construction Ministry and Urban Development Ministry and Director of the Amr Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anil Munkar (Vice and Virtue Department) from 1992 to 1996. From 1998 to 2005, he worked for the Al-Beruni University in Kapisa, Ministry of Refugee Affairs and Kabul University. During the transition period, Baligh headed the Court of Appeal for Crimes against Internal and External Crimes. He remained a member of the Special Court of Property Disputes. Before his nomination as Minister of Hajj, he was a teacher at the Sharia Faculty of Kabul University. Having been a member of the Fiqh and Law Faculty, he was part of the Central Shura of Ulema and Khateeb of the Pul-i-Khishti Mosque‏. ‏ frm/ma