KABUL -­ As Parliament returned from its winter break, political parties demanded Saturday that it put the approval of the election law and the independent commission law at the top of its agenda.

Only 13 months out from a crucial presidential election, the political leaders said any further delay will only further weaken the political process.

The head of the Afghanistan National Front (ANF) is concerned that the government lacks the determination to have a transparent election.

"The delay in the approval of the two laws will create challenges for the election. The parliament should pay attention in this regard and not delay them anymore," ANF leader Ahmad Zia Massoud said.

The head of the National Coalition Dr Abdullah Abdullah believes that a transparent election will go a long way in helping the country's challenges and asked Parliament to take the laws seriously.

"I hope that once the parliament appoints the administrative board it starts working on these laws. They should select the board as soon as possible and not waste much time," Abdullah said.

The current parliamentary administrative board said that parliament will look at the laws after the new board is selected.

"The negotiations [of the government and the political parties] on the election law have been completed in all the parliamentary committees. These committees will have a joint meeting and then send it to a general session," parliament deputy secretary Abdul Sattar Khawasi said.

The passing of the election law has been fraught as parliament and senate disagree on the nature of an independent election commission, namely whether or not two foreign observers can be part of the Electoral Complaints Commission. (Tolo News)