Afghanistan's parliament voted today to dismiss the country's Defence and Interior Ministers. Parliament has passed no confidence votes against the two. Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and Interior Minister Bismullah Mohammadi. They were the top ministers in President Hamid Karzai's Cabinet. Afghan members of Parliament said both the ministers were responsible for security lapses as they failed to stop cross-border shelling from Pakistan which has forced many Afghan villagers to flee their homes. They also raised questions about alleged corruption in the defense and interior ministries.

Their dismissal comes even as Karzai is trying to show stability in his government ahead of the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Afghan President’s office in a press release issued this evening has said that the constitution of the country given the parliament the authority to disqualify any minister. It further says that the President would make decision about the disqualified ministers after discussing the issue in the meeting of national security council.