KABUL - The speaker of Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament on Monday said president had promised him that date for parliamentary elections would be specified soon.

Last week President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said electoral reforms was a necessity, calling the upcoming polls a challenge.

The unity government leaders agreed to reform poll panels, before formation of the government. The reforms commission has not started work so far and the parliamentary elections that were due to take place this month has been postponed due to lack of funds.

Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, Wolesi Jirga speaker speaking at a general session, said: “In a meeting that I had with the president, he said that in consultation with you we would specify a date for the elections.”

He urged both the leaders to specify the date soon so that people’s and representatives’ concerns should be put aside.

Javed Faisal, deputy spokesman for Chief Executive Officer (CEO), told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Without reforms there will be no elections,” adding that people and international community wanted electoral reforms to take place in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers complained that the newly-appointed ministers did not take their demands seriously.

“Those ministers, who took vote of confidence, were oblivious to the demands of people’s representatives. They say that after a month our period would be over and we would also become acting lawmakers,” said Abdul Rahman Rahmani.

“There are whispers that after a month the Wolesi Jirga would also become illegitimate. That’s why no minister is paying attention to MPs,” said Abdul Satar Darzabi, MP from Jawzjan. (Pajhwok)