KABUL - The Meshrano Jirga -- or upper house of the parliament -- on Sunday expressed concern over growing violence in the country and decided to summon top security officials on Tuesday.

Lawmaker Gulalai Akbari from northeastern Badakhshan province said insecurity was fast increasing in the entire country. She linked insecurity in the north to two restive districts of Badakhshan.

 Mohammad Hassan Hotak, a public representative from southern Zabul province, lamented the new government had been focused on other issues while violence was surging throughout the country.

He deplored rebels had been able to keep a strong foothold in three districts of Zabul for the past 10 years, but no offensive had been conducted there to address the problem.

Haseebullah Kalimzai, a lawmaker from central Maidan Wardak province, stressed the need for the maintenance of law and order, saying development could not take place until security was ensured. 

Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar stressed the need for people’s cooperation with security institutions in overcoming increasing insecurity.

He said the security officials concerned would be summoned on Tuesday to a general session to brief the house on the current security environment. (Pajhwok)