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| Afghanistan |
| Karzai Still to Sign Ministers Arrest Warrants |
| 2009-11-25 |
| [Quqnoos] Afghanistan's chief prosecutor has told The Times that they have enough evidence to charge five ministers with embezzlement and fraud But President Karzai has so far refused to sign their arrest warrants, The Times reports. "We have indictments with sufficient proof against five ministers," the British newspaper quoted Afghanistan's Attorney General, Mohammed Ishaq Aloko, as saying. "Two of them are in the current cabinet and three are former ministers. The President only has to grant his approval, then the trials can proceed." Mr Karzai highlighted fighting corruption as a top priority during his inauguration speech last week as he began his second five-year term. He said his ministers must be "competent and just". But Mr Aloko's deputy, Fazel Ahmad Faqiryar, told The Times that Mr Karzai is yet to waive their ministerial immunity. "We still haven't received any warrants from the President to arrest the ministers," he said. President Karzai has been under pressure from his Western backers to tackle corruption in his administration. In an article published in The Sunday Times, the newspaper said warrants have been signed for the arrest of two Afghan cabinet ministers on charges of theft and fraud. The paper said investigators have gathered sufficient evidence to charge Sediq Chakari, the Minister of Hajj and Islamic affairs. A name of the second cabinet minister was not revealed. |
| Posted by:Fred |