The Chief Executive of Jamiat-e-Isalami Ata Mohammad Noor has vowed to defy the recent decision by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and continue working as the provincial governor of the northern Balkh province.

Speaking during a gathering in northern Balkh province, Noor said none one can dismiss him as the governor of Balkh province by issuing a decree, insisting that the political party he is representing is one of the main sides which played a key role in the formation of the government of national unity.

He said the presidential elections in 2014 was one of the worst elections the country and was marred massively by fraud by it was the Jamiat-e-Islami which gave a legitimacy to the process.

According to Noor, he entered into negotiations with the government representing the strong stance of the Jamiat-e-Islami and not as an ordinary governor representing the Balkh province.

He said the Jamiat party is the main piller of the unity government and no one can sideline him as an ordinary government employee, emphasizing that he will continue to his work as the governor of the Balkh province in a bid to prevent the spread of the Taliban and ISIS in Balkh

In other parts of his speech, Noor harshly cricized the Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and called him a ‘snake up in own sleeve’ and accused him of conspiring against the party which helped him reach to power.

This comes as the Office of the President announced Monday that President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has approved the resignation of Balkh governor Ata Mohammad Noor.

The Office of the President in a statement said Mr. Noor had resigned from his position as the governor of Balkh province a while ago.

The statement further added that President Ghani has approved his resignation and Engineer Mohammad Daud has been appointed as the new governor of Balkh province.