KABUL - The Meshrano Jirga on Sunday approved a draft law on the structure, duties and powers of election panels, with some members saying the legislative measure should have been adopted by a two-thirds majority.

Both houses of parliament -- Wolesi Jirga and Meshrano Jirga -- passed the draft law some two months back, but President Hamid Karzai refused to sign it. He sent it back to the lower house with certain observations on April 29.

On June 10, the lower house adopted the legislative measures with certain amendments proposed by President Karzai before sending it to the Senate.

The Meshrano Jirga also allowed the Independent Election Commission (’IEC) to probe poll-related complaints, saying the panel’s decision would be final.

It added to the draft a clause providing for the IEC Secretariat head’s appointment by the president on commissioners’ recommendations. The house

The head of the committee introducing Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) and IEC members to the president would be elected under the law passed by the upper house. He/she should have only Afghan nationality.

The committee will be comprised of Wolesi Jirga speaker, Meshrano Jirga chairman, chief justice, attorney general, university teachers and civil society members.

The draft law says 14 members be nominated for IEC and eight for ECC. Their names should be sent to the president, who will select nine members for IEC and five for ECC. (Pajhwok)