KABUL - Members of Provincial Councils (PCs) on Thursday voiced concerns on Wolesi Jirga's (Lower House of Parliament) approval of amending four articles of the election law, announcing that the doors of all provincial councils will be shut in protest negating their rights of monitoring.

They believe that Parliament's decision was a hasty one, demanding the president not to sign off on the amended election law.

On Wednesday, the Wolesi Jirga approved a number of amendments to four articles of the election law one being that the provincial council members are banned from monitoring governmental institutions.

In response to the decision, several provincial councils throughout Afghanistan have closed their doors. Provincial councils include: Herat, Kandahar, Nimroz, Balkh, Jawzjan, Sar-e-Pul, Faryab, Samangan, Badakhshan, Logar, Parwan, Zabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, and Nuristan provinces.

"If the monitoring right is snatched from the provincial council then it looks like a body without a soul," head of Kabul's Provincial Council Abdul Rahman said. "Initially, we will try and have our voices heard, but if that fails we will protest."

Other members have warned that they will resort to massive protests if the House does not review the amendments.

"We intend to continue our criticism and invite other members to Kabul to make the final decision," member of Kandahar provincial council Agha Lalai Dastgeeri said.

"Our perspective is that the president should make the final decision, otherwise, doors of provincial councils will remain closed," member of Nimroz provincial council Mohammad Sediq Jahansooz said.

Based on the election law, the provincial councils do not have the right of monitoring government institutions.

The amendments approved by Parliament have been sent to the president's office for a signature of approval. (Tolonews)