KABUL - President Mohammad AShraf Ghani extended the term of the appointed members of the Afghan Senate – Upper House of the Parliament (Meshrano Jirga), the Presidential Palace said Saturday.

A statement by ARG Palace said the decision was taken following a meeting with the members of the Senate on Friday.

The statement further added that the meeting was attended by the chairman of the Senate House (Meshrano Jirga) Fazal Hadi Muslimyar, deputy administrative chiefs along with the administrative delegation of the Senate.

The deputy head of the Office of Administrative Affairs, Nematullah Sayer, read the presidential decree regarding the extension of the term of appointed members of the Afghan Senate, the statement said, adding that the decree was issued after the members of the Senate requested President Ghani to extend the term of the appointed members in accordance with the enforced laws of the country.

According to the decree, the appointed members of the Senate House will continue to their work until the end of 16th period of the Lower House of the Parliament and appointment of the new members as per the article 84 of the Afghan constitution.

This comes as the government extended the term of the lawmakers in the Lower House of the Parliament (Wolesi Jirga) in June last year, saying the term of the parliament has been extended until the parliamentary elections are conducted and results are announced.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Palace announced late in December last year that the government is prepared for the Parliamentary and Provincial Councils elections between summer and fall seasons of next year.

The Afghanistan Independent Election Commission (IEC) Chief Yousuf Nuristani announced Wednesday that the schedule for the Parliamentary and District Council elections will be announced next week.

Speaking during a press conference in Kabul, Nuristani said the elections will likely bear a cost of around 63 million US Dollars, citing the estimations of the election commission. (KP)