Senate calls on government to specify Parliamentary Election date

Afghan Senate House called on government for early announcement of the Parliamentary Election Date, otherwise they would not recognize Wolesi Jirga legitimacy.

A number of Senators noted that the government failed to set an exact time for holding the parliamentary election and is not capable of holding the process.

“Unfortunately, weeks have been passed but the time of election still not specified,” Faisal Sami, Afghan senator said.

Afzal Shamel, Afghan senator said, “It has been two to three weeks… what will be the fate of Parliament and people?”

They also voiced concern over the failure of forming an electoral reforms commission; adding the National Unity Government has not reach an agreement to appoint the commission’s staffs.

“We will not have a transparent election without reforms in our electoral system. I warn the loss of our past 13 years achievements if the situations keeps going,” Saleha Mehrzad, Afghan senator said.

Previously, the Senate House announced the continuation of Wolesi Jirga work illegal after the June 22.

But in Tuesday’s session, Senators agreed by the majority of votes to consider the continuation of WJ working period legitimate until the determination of election date.

This comes as earlier the government announced the continuation of WJ work legal and promised to specify the election date up to the next month.

After the National Unity Government (NUG) was formed following the longest Presidential Election in Afghanistan’s history which was marred by massive frauds, both the NUG leaders, President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah, promised the nation to bring necessary reforms in the electoral system to avoid reoccurrence of crises.

Reported by Abdul Aziz Karimi