KABUL - The Wolesi Jirga did not hold its session on Saturday after Eid-ul-Fitr holidays because a majority of lawmakers were absent amid unresolved differences over the speaker election.
After inauguration of the 17th legislative term of the Wolesi Jirga on May 18, an election was conducted for the speaker position of the house but the poll went controversial.
The lower house is yet to reach a conclusion over the speaker position despite holding several sittings so far.
It was scheduled that a 10-member appointed delegation, tasked with addressing the deadlock, would present its report to the house on Saturday, but it did not happen as a huge number of lawmakers were absent.
Mirwais Yasini, a lawmaker from Nangarhar province, said: “On upcoming Monday, the photos archives will be checked and investigated again to find the controversial point of the issue.”
But Khan Agha Rezaee, another lawmaker from capital Kabul, without providing details, said the archives had been investigated as per the law. “If we follow the law and principles, the issue would be solved soon.”
However, outspoken lawmaker Ramazan Bashardust told media persons at the Wolesi Jirga hall that a number of legislators had hijacked the Wolesi Jirga for their personal interests.
He said lawmakers received around 1.5 million afghanis per day in salaries and privileges but they were not doing their job. He added salaries of lawmakers should not paid until they resolved the conflict over the speaker position. (Pajhwok)