KABUL, June 30: Afghanistan’s outspoken ex-minister for women’s affairs, Sima Samar, has been formally appointed head of the country’s newly-formed human rights commission, the United Nations said here on Sunday.

Members of the independent commission met on Friday to approve the appointment of Ms Samar, a former Pakistan-based aid worker, as their head, UN spokesman Manoel di Almedia e Silva said.

Afghan leader Hamid Karzai proposed the appointment. “They unanimously approved President Karzai’s appointment of Dr Sima Samar as the chair of the human rights commission,” Silva said at a press briefing here.

“The members recognized Dr Samar’s valuable contribution to the cause of human rights and peace in Afghanistan and warmly welcomed her appointment.”

The human rights commission was established this month.

Dr Samar, who was women’s affairs minister under an inter-Afghan power-sharing deal, was barred from public office by Afghanistan’s Chief Justice, Mawlawi Fazel Hadi Shinwari, for allegedly making statements against the Islamic country’s interests.—APP