Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Anti-Corruption Efforts ‘Failing’ Due to Absence of Law: HOOC

Anti-Corruption Efforts ‘Failing’ Due to Absence of Law: HOOC

KABUL - The head of the High Office of Oversight and Anti-Corruption (HOOC), Ghulam Hussain Fakhri, on Sunday said anti-corruption efforts by the HOOC have largely failed because there is no anti-corruption law in place.
Six months ago the anti-corruption law was sent to parliament by President Ashraf Ghani but MPs failed to approve the law and instead moved to dissolve the High Office of Oversight and Anti-Corruption. The HOOC has however continued to operate.
Fakhri however said MPs failed to approve the law as they would then be required to register their assets.
“The important reason for not approving the law by the MPs is that they would have to register their assets,” said Fakhri.
Parliament’s administrative board meanwhile said the HOOC was dissolved by MPs and that the draft anti-corruption law prepared by the anti-corruption office passed the necessary legal steps but was no longer valid following the dissolution of the HOOC.
“When the structure of an office is dissolved by parliament, then how can parliament approve a draft law by the dissolved office,” the Wolesi Jirga secretary Abdul Qadir Zazai said.
Despite parliament’s administrative board remarks, a number of MPs said they are ready to approve the law and register their assets in order to fight corruption.
“Although nothing has been mentioned in Afghanistan’s law about MPs asset registration, it is a good move,” MP Ghulam Farooq Majrooh said.
CEO, deputy spokesman, Jawid Faisal meanwhile said if parliament approves the anti-corruption law, it will be to the benefit of the country and the people.
“This law is beneficial for the people and the country and we expect the MPs to discuss it and approve it,” said Faisal.

The HOOC meanwhile said of all the MPs, only Ramazan Bashardost and Baktash Siawash have registered their assets and other MPs refused to do so. (Tolonews)