Governor inaugurates the construction of the Khost-Gardez road despite insurgent threats. The governor spoke out against corruption and in support of the Karzai government. Paktia, Afghanistan.19/ 11/2009.
By: Hanan Habibzai
The opening of the construction of the Khost-Gardez road, which is expected to increase commerce between Khost and Gardez and economic development in both provinces, will continue, in spite of the militants' assault on the construction workers.
The governor of Paktia also holds a 'jirga' with tribal elders and the incumbent President Hamid Karzai to pledge his support for him.
Today Hamid Karzai was sworn in once again as the President of Afghanistan while the international community have tarnished his reputation with regards to corruption in the state. Governor Joma khan Hamdard says that ending corruption is indeed possible but it needs a strong management.
‘’Anyone who is doing positive work, the government should pay attention for his or her encouragement. If someone is committing corruption he or she should face justice.
This will help to eradicate the official corruption. ’’ He urged.
Joma Khan remarked out while President Hamid Karzai handed over his second term of presidency as elected leader.
The international community advised the new Afghan government to end official corruption which consumes billions of international funds.
The question of corruption is still unanswered for international donors.
A huge debate is repeatedly wandering among international donors whether or not Hamid Karzai will be able to tackle rising corruption in the new administration?
President Karzai has been pressurized to take strong action against the corrupt officials.
Last week, the attorney General of Afghanistan announced that some of the high ranking officials including ministers and mayors are involved in huge amount of corruption.
Joma Khan Hamdard agreed with this outspoken comment of the Afghan Attorney General and added that irregularities within the legislation should be sorted out, so that anti-corruption laws can be properly implemented and observed.
Joma Khan Hamdard moved to Paktia province as governor when instability was very high and insurgents were regularly attacking the security and civil offices.
He assumed office in December 2007 when the stability was out of local government’s control. He states the stability of the province came under his control when he started to work with local elders.
The Pashtun tribal figure is born in Balkh. He earned his reputation fighting the Soviets under the leadership of Gulbuddin Hakmatyar until the defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.
He says the next government will face a significant challenge to convince Taliban and Gulbuddin Hakmatyar’s current faction to join in with peace negotiations.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged on Wednesday during his oath speech that his next government is responsible to re-continue the peace talk.
Governor Joma Khan Hamdard says the war is not a solution to end Afghan crisis. He has praised the peace commitment of President Karzai.
Governor Joma Khan Hamdard has the ability to arbitrate between the Afghan government and his former leader Gulbuddin Hakmatyar.
He understands the psychology of Mr Hakmatyar because Mr Hamdard was working with him as a key guerrilla commander in northern Afghanistan during 1980s.
In 1994 he defected from Hezb-Islami and from the guidance of his mentor Gulbuddin Hekmatyar due to their post-war political differences and then decided to join in an uneasy alliance with the warlord General Rashid Dostum.
The purpose of the alliance was to eradicate a new religious movement that was coming from religious schools and orphanages, a movement that later became known as the Taliban, “the students”.
Joma Khan Hamdard won the support of his province after building a reputation of protecting the interests of the Pashtun people across northern Afghanistan.
He was the former governor of Jowzjan and Baghlan.
