KABUL (Pajhwok): The Wolesi Jirga on Saturday rejected by a majority vote an election-related legislative decree of President Ashraf Ghani.
The presidential decree was placed before the lower house for approval by Nasir Ahamd Hanafi, head of the legislative commission of the Wolesi Jirga.
He believed some parts of the orders needed amendments but the commission declined approvingthe measure.
Hanafi said the assembly could not include the electoral law in its agenda during the 5th year of its tenure. He added the president could not issue a legislative decree when a law was already in force.
Article 109of the constitution says: “Proposals for amendments to the electoral law cannot be included in the working agenda of the assembly during the last year of the legislative period.”
Under the constitution, the lawmakers’ mandate ends on the 1st of Saratan (22nd June) of the fifth year after the election.
Wolesi Jirga elections have to be held 30-60 days before the expiry of its term. But this year, the Presidential Palace delayed the elections due to technical and financial issues.
An exact date of the election is yet to be announced.During Saturday’s session, of the 128 members present, 113 voted against the legislative decree.
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