KABUL (SW): Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of the National Unity Government (NUG), on Monday defended the delay in issuance of the proposed biometric identity cards.
The new ID cards were supposed to be launched last week with the maiden one being issued to the President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani. However, the process has been delayed for unknown reasons.
Chairing the cabinet meeting today, Abdullah said the government is in the process of consultation and consensus building with the people’s representatives on this matter. He stressed the government does not want this issue to cause rift and division among people, and the final decision would be in line with the people’s wishes.
The issuance of the new ID cards have been delayed multiple times. Officials are also citing the President’s busy schedule for the delay.
Initially, the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) rejected the Presidential Decree on marking the ethnicity and religion of the card holder on the face of the new cards, but the Masharano Jirga (upper house) approved the Decree. This led to joint commission of the two houses deliberate on it, and finally vote in favor of the Decree. However, some members of the WJ are insisting upon a renewed debate on the Decree in the house.
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