Afghan president rejects resignation of fraud investigator in disputed vote

Afghan election official blocked from resigning

KABUL — The Afghan president says he has rejected the resignation of a top fraud investigator in the country’s disputed August election.

The official said Monday that he was leaving because foreigners were making all the decisions on the U.N.-backed panel. Maulavi Mustafa Barakzai is one of two Afghans on the five-member Electoral Complaints Commission.

In a statement Wednesday, President Hamid Karzai said he appreciates Barakzai’s “work and honest service” and that he should remain on the panel. Karzai said the group should take measures to address Barakzai’s concerns.

Karzai had previously said that the allegations could damage the credibility of the panel’s rulings, comments that rivals alleged showed the president aimed to undermine the group’s authority.