The Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) approved of only nine out of 19 cabinet nominees on Wednesday, after almost four months of delay.

Unlike other Parliament sessions, 243 MPs were present to cast their vote of confidence in favor or against the ministerial nominees and the National Directorate Security (NDS) nominee.

Each cabinet nominee must have attained 122 votes in favor to become a member of the National Unity Government's cabinet.

The results of President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah's picks are as follows:

Introduced by Ghani:

Nominee for the Ministry of Finance Eklil Hakimi was approved: 128 votes in favor, 88 against, 21 blank, and eight invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs Faiz Mohammd Osmani was approved: 160 votes in favor, 61 against, 17 blank, and five invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Mines Daud Shah Saba was approved: 146 votes in favor, 74 against, 13 blank, 10 invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Higher Education Khatera Afghan was rejected: 71 votes in favor, 146 against, 21 blank, and three invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs Qamaruddin Shinwari was rejected: 102 votes in favor, 112 against, 22 blank, and seven invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Public Works Abbas Basir was rejected: 85 votes in favor, 131 against, 19 blank, and eight invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Faizullah Zaki was rejected: 81 votes in favor, 133 against, 25 blank, and four invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Defense Sher Mohammad Karimi was rejected: 96 votes in favor, 112 against, 26 blank, and seven invalid.

Introduced by Abdullah:

Nominee for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Salahuddin Rabbani was approved: 151 votes in favor, 70 against, 12 blank, and nine invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Interior Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Ulumi was approved: 131 votes in favor, 91 against, 15 blank, and six invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi was approved: 134 votes in favor, 87 against, 17 blank, and five invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development Nasir Durrani was approved: 145 votes in favor, 71 against, 19 blank, and five invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Public Health Ferozuddin Feroz was approved: 170 votes in favor, 54 against, 12 blank, and four invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Economy Sardar Mohammad Rahman Oghli was rejected: 104 votes in favor, 103 against, 27 blank, and nine invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Commerce and Industries Sardar Mohammad Rahimi was rejected: 111 votes in favor, 102 against, 20 blank, and nine invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Education Mohammad Gul Zalmai Younusi was rejected: 90 votes in favor, 123 against, 20 blank, and nine invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Water and Energy Abdul Rahman Salahi was rejected: 106 votes in favor, 109 against, 24 blank, and four invalid.

Nominee for the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Barna Karimi was rejected: 115 votes in favor, 97 against, 26 blank, and five invalid.

NDS nominee Rahmatullah Nabil, who was an independent candidate, won the Parliament confidence vote with 154 votes in favor, 58 against, 22 blank, and nine invalid.

Upon hearing the announcement of the eight ministerial nominees and NDS Chief approved by Parliament, President Ashraf Ghani welcomed their decision.

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/3279

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