KABUL (Pajhwok): Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Razzaq Wahidi on Monday survived a no-confidence motion from the Wolesi Jirga after offering some satisfactory explanations.
Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said 121 votes were required to impeach the minister.
However, 104 votes were cast against him and 71 in his support from the 184 MPs present at today's session. Nine votes were invalidated
House secretary Abdul Rauf Inami told Pajhwok Afghan News the panel heads had summoned Wahidi to appear before Monday’s session and answer queries from lawmakers about illegal appointments and not appearing before meetings of the house commissions.
After the voting, Ibrahimi announced the result showed Wahidi could continue as telecommunications and IT minister.
But lawmaker Nasir Osoli from southeastern Khost province accused his colleagues of having cut underhand deals with Wahidi to save his neck.
Earlier, a lawmaker from central Maidan Wardak province, Gulam Husain Nasri, had said “some government departments have been turned into family entities.”
He said if the issue was not checked, it would widen the gap between the government and the masses.
The lawmaker said some officials overlooked merit and the government should reconsider posting of such officials.
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