KABUL - The Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament has decided to suspend membership of lawmakers who were absent for more than 20 days in a row in future.
Few days back, some Wolesi Jirga members complained that a number of their colleagues had been permanently absent from the house meetings.
A lawmaker, who wished to go unnamed, told Pajhwok Afghan News that 10 legislators were permanently absent and 20 others attended only important sessions. Currently the Wolesi Jirga has 236 members.
The lower house’s secretary, Abdul Qadir Zazai, told Monday’s session that the Administrative Board after hearing complaints from some lawmakers decided to suspend membership of public representatives who were consecutively absent for 20 days of a month under articles 73 and 119 of the internal regulations.
He said salaries would be also paid to lawmakers based on their attendance and they would be subjected to salary cut for the days absent.
A number of lawmakers supported the decision and asked the administrative board to enforce it equally on all house members including members of the administrative board.(Pajhwok)