FAIZABAD/FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): Provincial council (PC) members of northeastern Badakhshan and western Ghor provinces shut down their offices in protest against the Wolesi Jirga’s decision barring the council members to oversight local departments, the members said Thursday.
Sticking to its stance, the lower house of parliament on Wednesday decided provincial councils did not reserve the right to supervise or evaluate the performance of local departments.
But the protesting PC members were of the opinion that they should be given the right back because they were the only representatives on the ground to hear people’s complaints.
Abdul Naji Nazari, head of Badakhshan council, said: “To lodge strong protest over the Wolesi Jirga decision, we have closed down the offices today. We ask the president to empower the councils’ members.”
Farahnaz Pamir, another member of provincial council, warned if their suggestions were not met they would continue with their protests. “The MPs are not able to come to the provinces and far-flung areas even once in a year. Then how can they make us toothless.”
Fazal Haq Ihsan, head of Ghor council, also vehemently criticized the Wolesi Jirga stance and said that henceforth there was no need for provincial councils.
He said oversight by councils’ members was essential for preventing graft in local departments. “Without oversight, corruption will multiply and local departments won’t produce tangible outcome.”
hg/rm