AVA- Regardless of his dismissal from position by the President, northern Balkh Governor Atta Mohammad Noor on Saturday visited the governor’s house and chaired an administrative meeting.
About few days back, President Ashraf Ghani accepted Noor’s resignation and announced Eng. Dawood his replacement as Balkh Governor. However, Dawood has not been formally introduced to the slot.
In the meantime, Noor refused to accept the decision and has said he submitted his resignation last year based on some conditions.
Earlier, speaking to two separate gatherings, Noor has said he was governor of Balkh in the past, is also currently and will remain as such in the future.
The meeting was broadcasted live by a number of TV channels and was also attended by some Balkh military authorities, civil officials, directors, Noor’s supporters and some members of the Jamiat-i-Islami Afghanistan (JIA) at the governor’s house.
Speaking to the participants, he reiterated that he had given all the authority to JIA. “If JIA tells me to leave the post, I will immediately quit. But if my party gives me permission to continue my job, then I will attend my duty until the end of the incumbent government’s tenure.”
Noor once again stated that they were part of the government, adding, “I am not merely a governor. I have played the role of one side during the creation of unity government.”
He said he wasn’t appointed by the President’s order and neither the President possessed the power to overthrow him.
However, Noor hinted that he was ready to leave the position as governor in case of an agreement, but he said ‘no one could remove him through force’.
Noor yet again accused the Presidential Palace and the Chief Executive Officer of hatching conspiracies against him. “With these plots, some circles are attempting to insecure the Northern Zone, but we will never allow them to reach their goal.”
During his speech at the governor house’s meeting hall, he said: “I am still serving as the governor of Balkh and will continue my duty.”
But Noor also proposed that if the Presidential Palace appointed a governor of his choice, then he was all set to quit in the capacity as governor.
The Balkh governance thanked all the civil and military authorities for participating the meeting.
