Deal between Karzai, lawmakers over parliament session initiation is ‘uncertain’
January 24th, 2011 - 2:05 pm ICT by ANIKabul, Jan 24 (ANI): The deal between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and rebel lawmakers on the opening of the lower house of parliament appears to be in doubt as the MPs are demanding the abolition of the Karzai-backed tribunal, terming it ‘unconstitutional’.
Afghan electoral law states that the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) is the ultimate arbiter of disputes over fraud, and that the results declared by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) are final.
Karzai had agreed to the move after the MPs had reportedly said they would respect the findings of an electoral fraud tribunal.
Mirwais Yasini, Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of the Afghan Parliament, had earlier said Karzai had agreed that: “criminal cases should be decided according to the laws and constitution. If the special court is illegal then it will automatically be abolished.”
The 249-member lower house of parliament, the Wolasi Jerga, was originally scheduled to open on Sunday where the lawmakers were supposed to formally accept the deal.
Talks are continuing despite the latest disturbances, but the issue is threatening to cause a constitutional crisis, the BBC reports.
According to some of Karzai’s officials, around 36 MPs could lose their seats, and added that the President is trying to manipulate the result of the election to produce a parliament more favourable to him.
About four months have passed after the parliamentary election, but the parliament sessions has not been started as of now.
Last week, Karzai had ordered a one-month delay to give the tribunal more time to investigate fraud allegations made after last September’s poll.
On Friday, the UN, EU, US and Canada had expressed their “deep concern” at the delay.
“Afghanistan’s peaceful future lies in the building up of robust democratic institutions based on the rule of law and clear respect for the separation of powers,” a joint statement said. (ANI)
- Karzai agrees to dump 'parliament session delay' plans over constitutional crisis fears - Jan 23, 2011
- Karzai Government challenges poll results - Nov 25, 2010
- Afghans await results of tainted presidential election - Oct 17, 2009
- Karzai opens Afghan parliament - Jan 26, 2011
- Afghanistan ready for September polls: says election body - Jul 15, 2010
- Decision to name Karzai president had no legal basis: Abdullah - Nov 04, 2009
- Karzai wins majority amid 'clear proof of fraud' - Sep 09, 2009
- Afghan election watchdog disqualifies 19 over poll fraud - Nov 22, 2010
- Voting begins in Afghan parliamentary polls - Sep 18, 2010
- Election results remain sealed in Afghanistan - Sep 12, 2009
- Afghan poll review panel completes probe in fraud charges - Oct 19, 2009
- U.N. recommends international community to release funds for Afghan parliamentary elections - Apr 17, 2010
- Karzai Govt. issues arrest warrants, puts pressure on Afghan poll Officials - Nov 26, 2010
- Karzai gets absolute majority in Afghan poll (Lead) - Sep 17, 2009
- Top Afghan election officials, accused of vote-rigging, resign - Apr 07, 2010
Tags: afghan president hamid karzai, complaints commission, constitutional crisis, democratic institutions, deputy speaker, election commission, electoral fraud, electoral law, fraud allegations, hamid karzai, house of parliament, independent election, jerga, law states, parliament session, parliamentary election, president hamid karzai, s poll, separation of powers, session initiation