Kabul

 KABUL (PAN): A lawmaker on Monday claimed he had been offered the Wolesi Jirga Complaint Commission’s headship in return for $3,000, or 159,000 afghanis.
Public representative from northern Balkh province Maulvi Abdur Rahman Rahmani told the lower house that an elderly figure had sought the bribe from him before last week’s election for the slot.
Without naming anyone, the parliamentarian claimed having concrete evidence of the offer.

KABUL (PAN): Lawmakers Haji Zahir Qadir and Mirwais Yasini on Saturday failed to receive 50 percent of the vote necessary for election as first vice-chairman of the parliamentary board.
Yasini obtained 99 votes and Qadir 90 from the present 221 house members, falling short of the required 111 mark, 50 percent.
Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said the votes cast included eight blank and 23 invalid and that outspoken parliamentarian Ramazan Bashardost did not participate in the voting.

KABUL (PAN): Entering the third year of its constitutional five-year term, the parliament commenced its joint session on Wednesday, with Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi calling for a sustained focus on problem resolution and bringing prosperity to the country.
On the occasion, President Hamid Karzai spoke on Afghanistan’s democratic transition. Following recitation from the holy Quran, an army band presented the national anthem. The speaker welcomed Karzai and other guests.