KABUL - The Meshrano Jirga -- or upper house of parliament -- rejected on Tuesday a draft law allowing parliamentarians to take advantage of certain privileges even after completing their tenure.

Earlier in the week, the Wolesi Jirga approved the draft law permitting lower house members to draw 25 percent of their salaries, keep two security guards and enjoy certain other privileges after completing their tenure.

Prepared by MPs, the draft law on immunity and rights of members was placed before the general assembly on Saturday. But analysts and people said offering privileges to parliamentarians after completing their tenure was illegal and unfair. They urged the upper house and the president to reject the legislative measure.

The draft law came in for flak as it was presented to general assembly. Balqis Roshan, a senator from Farah province, said: “It is very shameful that members of the parliament spend an entire day on seeking privileges.”

At a time when government struggled to give salaries to low-level employees, lawmakers should not become a drag on the exchequer, she argued.

There were more deserving people in the country who needed privileges, remarked her colleague from Herat province, Tayyebi Zahidi.

Senate Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar said the fate of the bill should be decided by the general session instead of being debated at commission level.

“We should not seek concessions for ourselves. Being public representatives, we should work for the nation’s glory and welfare,” he said, urging the combined committee to discuss the legislative measure with members of the lower house.

Article 100 of the constitution says in case the decision of one house is rejected by another, a combined committee composed of equal members of each house is formed to resolve the disagreement. The decision of the committee is enforced after its approval by the president.

In case the combined committee cannot resolve the disagreement, the resolution is considered void. And, if the resolution is approved by the Wolesi Jirga, it can be approved in the next session of the Wolesi Jirga by a majority of its members.

This approval is assumed as enforceable, after it is signed by the president, without submission to the Meshrano Jirga.

In case the disagreement between the two houses is over legislations involving financial affairs, and the combined committee is not able to resolve it, the Wolesi Jirga can approve the draft by the majority vote of its members.

This draft is assumed as enforceable without submission to the Meshrano Jirga after it is signed by the president.

But Khan Mohammad Khagi, a senator from Paktika province, said the measure should be debated by commissions. Fifty-six of the 62 legislators present in today’s session voted against the draft law. (Pajhwok)