KABUL - State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ghulam Nabi Farahi said the presidential legislative decree on composition, powers and duties of election commissions was sent to the Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament for approval on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters in front of the parliament building, the minister said the government hoped the Wolesi Jirga would soon make a decision on the decree.
Abdul Rauf Inami, the Wolesi Jirga secretary, confirmed receiving the decree by the lower house secretariat on Saturday and said it would be included in the agenda soon.
Article 79 of the Constitution states: “During recess of the House of Representatives, the government shall, in case of an immediate need, issue legislative decrees, except in matters related to budget and financial affairs.” Legislative decrees, after endorsement by the president, shall acquire the force of law.
Legislative decrees shall be presented to the National Assembly within 30 days of convening its first session, and if rejected by the National Assembly, they become void.”
The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has set an October 15 date for holding the long-delayed parliamentary elections, but the government seems to have not yet made any preparations for conducting the vote.
Civil Society activists have been criticising the government for failing to conduct the elections to the Wolesi Jirga, a vote, according to the constitution, was due between April 23 and May 23 last year. (Pajhwok)