KABUL - Several infuriated lawmakers on Wednesday threatened that the house would summon the finance minister if he failed to sack his deputy by Sunday. They slammed deputy minister, Mustafa Mastoor, for saying that MPs had earlier rejected the national budget because the ministry did not raise their salaries.
A majority of parliamentarians on Monday rejected for the second time the proposed budget for the current fiscal year, saying inequalities in provincial allocations were yet to be rectified.

On March 18, the rejected the budget, claiming unfair allocations to provinces and also due to the massive $80 million (3.9 billion afs) unexplained bailout package to the ailing Kabul Bank.
Nahid Farid, a legislator from Herat, said the finance minister should brief Wolesi Jirga over the irresponsible remarks of his deputy, saying the official should be referred to the attorney if the minister failed to satisfy lawmakers' demand. "Such remarks amount to abusing the nation."

Shirwali Wardak, an MP from Kabul, said such statements had changed the proposed budget into a political budget and wanted the deputy finance minister to brief lawmakers. "He (Mastoor) should come to the House, if he satisfies us, then we would appreciate him, if not he should be punished and referred to the attorney office."

Another lawmaker, Mohammad Akbar Stanikzai said: "I would not attend the House until a stern action was taken against Mastoor." The official should prove his remarks and reveal the name of the lawmakers who asked for pay hike.

Another MP, Maulvi Rahman Rahmani, said legislators did not ask for salaries to be increased, but now they raise a similar call, adding: "We would never approve the budget unless an MP's salary was brought on a par with a minister's."

However, Speaker of the House, Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, described the finance ministry official's statements as irresponsible and cruel. He added: "The house would take a decision if the finance minister failed to take any decision on Mastoor."

Deputy Secretary, Mohammad Farhad Azimi, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the House's decision would be to summon the finance minister and the concerned official should be fired and referred to the attorney. (Pajhwok)