KABUL -The Wolesi Jirga on Monday named its members for joint parliamentary commission to be tasked with deciding the fate of the president’s legislative decree on electoral reform.
Election reforms are a key point of the unity government agreement between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah. The president had issued two legislative decrees in this regard, but the Wolesi Jirga rejected both.
The first decree was thrown out by the Meshrano Jirga too, but the upper house approved the second one last month. Due to differences in the Senate over approval of the decree, the issue was referred to a joint parliamentary team.
Article 100 of the Constitution says: “If one house rejects a decision of the other, a joint commission comprised of an equal number of members from each shall be formed to resolve the differences. The decision of the commission, after endorsement by the president, shall be enforced.”
It adds: “If the joint commission does not solve the differences, the decision shall be considered rejected. In such a situation, the House of People shall pass it with two-thirds majority in its next session. This decision, without submission to the House of Elders, shall be promulgated once endorsed by the president.”
The Meshrano Jirga has already chosen its seven members for the team. They are Hasibullah Kalimzai, Maulvi Mohiuddin Munsif, Mohammad Hassan Hotak, Farhad Sakhi, Aziz Musleh, Anarkali Hunaryar and Seddiqa Balkhi.
He said the nominees were introduced by the Justice Commission of the Wolesi Jirga, which was expected to introduce its members last Thursday, but failed to do so.
Haji Zahir Qadir, the first deputy speaker , introduced Qudratullah Zaki, Seddiq Ahmad Osmani, Najia Babakarkhel, Abdul Qadir Zazai, Nisar Ahmad Faizi Ghoryani, Obaidullah Barakzai, Haji Mohammad Saleh, Kubra Mustafawi, Mohammad Hashim Mehdawi and Mohammad Sarwar Osmani as nominees for the commission.
Of the 127 lawmakers present, 112 voted in favour of the nominees while 15 voted against them.
The completion of the joint team would pave the ground for resolving differences over the president’s legislative decree regarding electoral reforms.If approved, the decree will help clean up election system.(Pajhwok)