Afghan Parliament Approves Karzai's Nominee For Interior Ministry

Omar Daudzai (file photo)

Omar Daudzai (file photo)

KABUL -- The Afghan parliament has approved President Hamid Karzai's new appointee for interior minister.

Omar Daudzai was confirmed on September 25, a month after lawmakers disqualified his predecessor.

Among the 223 members of parliament present, Daudzai received 153 votes in favor of his nomination.

Last month, the Afghan parliament disqualified former Interior Minister Ghulam Mujtaba Patang.

He was accused of failing to check increasing insecurity in the capital, Kabul, and on the country's highways.

Patang, however, continued to work as caretaker minister.

Daudzai is considered a close confidant of Karzai. He was the president's chief of staff and a former Afghan ambassador to Iran and Pakistan.

With reporting by dpa