New Governor Of Hangarhar Province Proposes That Afghan President Rabbani Transfer Power To Loya Jirgah

The leader of the Shura (council) of Afghanistan's Eastern Zone and new governor of the Nangarhar province bordering on Pakistan, Haji Abdul Qadyr, has proposed to the president of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, Burhanuddin Rabbani, that he transfer power to Loya Jirgah ("great assembly," Pashtoons' informal traditional institution). "Eastern Shura, which controls three eastern provinces in Afghanistan - Nangarhar, Kunar and Laghman - fully supports the idea of convening Loya Jirgah," Qadyr said. "Our representatives visited Rome together with a delegation of the Northern Alliance. We agreed to establish a joint Supreme Council at a time when the Taliban controlled most of the Afghan territory." Now, Qadyr said, the situation has changed, and instead of the Council it is necessary to convene Loya Jirgah, to which Rabbani must transfer power. Qadyr also holds that the Northern Alliance must accept the UN-proposed peace settlement plan providing for the formation of a broad-based multi-ethnic government in the country.