KABUL - Perturbed by the ongoing wave of violence across the country, lawmakers have urged the president to prioritise improved security, the Wolesi Jirga deputy speaker said on Wednesday.

Siddique Ahmad Osmani, chairing the lower house session, said the unity government was pursuing a positive agenda but the security situation was fast deteriorating.

His observation came after a number of legislators voiced their concern over the worsening security environment. One female member regretted the government’s inadequate focus on security.

Fauzia Kofi from northeastern Badakhshan province lamented many areas had recently emerged as battlefields, a situation that required immediate attention from the rulers.

Her counterpart from Kandahar Shakiba Hashimi said the presence of Taliban and gunmen of different descriptions was behind the escalating insecurity.

“Police commanders, governors, district chiefs, ministers and other high-ranking officials are complicit in arming irresponsible gunmen,” she claimed.

A public representative from western Herat province, Munawar Shah Bahadari, grumbled people avoided travelling a number of inter-provincial highways because of lawlessness.

Responding to members’ concerns, Osmani said: “On behalf of this august house, we have written a letter to the president, asking him to accord due priority to security.”

He ruled the assembly, which had informed the president of these apprehensions, could not go further in its quest for peace and stability. Osmani stressed the need for the nomination of permanent ministers.

A day earlier, the Meshrano Jirga -- upper house of the parliament -- asked the national unity government to enforce effective measures to stem the present insecurity. 

Since the inauguration of President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai’s administration a month back, insecurity in Kabul and a number of provinces has escalated. Recent attacks have resulted in the killing of government officials and civilians. (Pajhwok)