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Afghan minister sacked for 'incompetence'

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-10 16:36

KABUL -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday sacked another member from the cabinet, Minister of Transportation Hamidullah Qadri, for his "incompetence"  at work. 

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. [Agencies]

Karzai announced dismissing of Hamidullah Qadrai in a press release issued by Presidential Office here saying that the decision is made during the president's meeting with ministers.

"Hamidullah Qadri's is suspected of involvement in some illegal activities and his dismissal is related to incompetence as a minister of transportation including his failure in providing facilities for Afghans' pilgrimage trip to Macca," the statement said.

It added that the Qadri would be handed over to Ministry of Attorney and Justice for further investigation.

Meanwhile, Karzai appointed one of his economic adviser Omar Zakhilwal working as acting Minister of Transportaion and requested Zakhilwal to fulfil the duty well.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai in a surprise move on October 11 replaced five ministers with old faces of the cabinet just days after the beginning of voter registration for the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for 2009 while analysts said the reshuffle aimed to address mounting criticism from western officials and media on alleged corruption of local police and lack of governance capability of Afghan government.