Ghani adamant about not compromising on Constitution

Addressing an event to mark National Journalists Day, President Ashraf Ghani referred to the peace process and said he will never compromise Afghanistan’s Constitution or the nation’s sovereignty.

President Ghani says there is no space to compromise on the rights of Afghan women in the peace process, adding that all Afghans need to come together to forge a consensus in defense of democracy.

Ghani says that the Afghan people want freedom of speech, and that attacks on Afghan journalists are attacks on the future of Afghanistan.

Key values must be defended. Anyone who divides society and destroys the republican system has destroyed freedom of expression, he said.

Afghan women’s rights are fundamental to me and Afghan women’s rights should be preserved, he said.

An attack on freedom of expression is an attack on the future of Afghanistan.

Ghani asked whether people thought it possible to hold elections without freedom of expression and also stated “We do not accept any deviation from the Constitution”.

Ghani told all government employees that “if we see violence against journalists in the provinces, I will immediately dismiss you.”

On news of an Afghan military chopper having been shot down earlier Thursday, Ghani said he was “angry” about the incident, that happened in Behsud district in Maidan Wardak province. “Over 80 suspects” have been arrested, he said.