KABUL - A number of Wolesi Jirga members on Wednesday accused their colleagues of misusing their position in obtaining passports for relatives.
Shukuria Essakhel, a lawmaker from Baghlan province, said: “I have been serving as lawmaker over the past 11 years but I had never given a reference letter to someone to get his/her work done faster than usual in government organs.”
She said unfortunately some of their colleagues possessed printed collections of reference letters and stamps, which they used in obtaining passports for their relatives faster than other people. She said the practice had landed the Passport Department in trouble.
“I don’t know where did some of our colleagues have found such luxury vehicles. If the cars are given to them by parliament, they should be distributed to all representatives, we get in trouble when they block roads to parliament,” she said.
Essakhel said the house administrative board was responsible to seriously follow the issue.
Mohammad Abda, who heads the house legislative affairs commission, said lawmakers should not keep stamps or official letters in accordance with the lower house rules.
But he added lawmakers could have introduction letters for introducing someone.
Ramazan Bashardost from Kabul said many people had complained against some lawmakers, but their complains were not addressed or heard by the Wolesi Jirga commissions.
Some lawmakers were accused of torturing and beating people, grabbing others’ lands and committing different crimes, he said.
Gul Padshah Majidi, a representative from Paktia province, said: “The complaints hearing commission cannot take all complaints from people due to their heavy work, therefore the administrative board should pay attention to such issues.”
He said some lawmakers were involved in illegal constructions. “Roads in different parts of Kabul, particularly in Pul Charkhi area are blocked when some lawmakers pass the area,” he said.
After Majidi’s speech, a lawmaker from Kabul, Qudratullah Sahak verbally abused Majidi and accused him of taking extortions from the country’s customs each month.
In response to Sahak, Majidi said, “I know you are a thief.” The exchange of hot words between the two led to a verbal dispute but they were calmed down with interference from other lawmakers.
Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said lawmakers should not misuse their authorities given to them by the house.
He asked house members to present their evidence in support of their claims against other lawmakers so the house could investigate them.
However, he said lawmakers should not accuse each other in absence of credible evidence. (Pajhwok)