KABUL (PAN): Two ministers-designate, recently rejected by the Wolesi Jirga, say the parliamentarians' decision against them amounts to injustice. But legislators stoutly defend their stance. In a setback to the president, the Lower House of Parliament rejected on Saturday 17 of the 24 cabinet picks introduced by President Hamid Karzai to lawmakers for an approval. Anwarul Haq Ahadi, minister-designate for economy, and Dr. Syed Muhammad Amin Fatimie, named as public health minister, failed to receive a vote of confidence from the MPs. Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News on Tuesday, Ahadi said: "A number of legislators had promised to vote for me. However, they reneged on their promises as part of a conspiracy." Fatimie said the decision of parliamentarians was unexpected and politically motivated. "I expected 170 to 200 votes this time around, given the fact that I had received 217 votes five years ago." The former minister believed the main cause of his failure to receive the required number of votes was that he had refused to accept suggestions from several members of the Wolesi Jirga. Similarly, the minister-designate for higher education Professor Obaidullah Obaid also slammed as unfair the house decision on rejecting his nomination. But the MPs defended their decision, insisting they had acted in national interest. "Those who were rejected had no good plans or achievements," observed Syed Daud Hashmi, an MP from Kabul. He claimed the nation fully supported their decision. In order to have a clean, efficient and competent new cabinet, new faces must be included, said government servant Rakhshana. frm/mud