New Samangan governor assumes office; Ousted governor changes his mind

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AT-KABUL: The newly-appointed governor for Samangan province took over office from his predecessor on Tuesday according to the Independent Directorate of Local Governance, just a day after the ousted governor refused a government order to step down and hinged his defiance on a final decision of Jamiat-e Islami party.

Abdul Latif Ibrahimi, a powerful jihadi commander in the north and brother of the parliament speaker, Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi was appointed by President Ashraf Ghani to replace another powerful jihadi commander Abdul Karim Khaddam.

Monira Yousufzada, spokeswoman for the Independent Directorate of Local Governance, said that the takeover ceremony took place without any problems at the presence of the former provincial governor.

But the ceremony was reported to have taken place amid tight security measures.

“Mr. Ibrahimi was introduced to the people and government employees at the presence of the former governor. There was no problem and all the people and government servants welcomed the change and transfer,” Yousufzada said.

Governors for five provinces were dismissed by a presidential order and new persons took the places.

The Jamiat party, that Khaddam is a member, said that his dismissal was due to a deal between the government and the party.

Zabih Fetrat, spokesman for the party said that Khddam was appointed as head of the provincial peace council.