KABUL (SW) – The change in constituencies in Ghazni province for the forthcoming elections sparked heated debate in the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) on Wednesday.
A number of members dubbed this move by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) as clear violation of the Constitution.
Abdul Lateef Pidram, one such MP, said the government and the IEC made this move of dividing the province in three electoral constituencies to favor a certain ethnic group. He pronounced is as a brazen attempt to promote one ethnic group.
However, other members hailed the move by the IEC in terms of providing equal opportunities to all citizens in Ghazni.
Kamal Nasir Ossoli, another MP, said members of Hazara, Tajik and Pashtun communities living in 14 different districts of the province would now have equal opportunity to elect their representatives for the forthcoming parliamentary elections thanks to this move by the IEC.
Arguments of the MPs led to heated debate in the house. The IEC made the announcement of creating exceptional three constituencies in Ghazni province for the forthcoming elections after persistent demands and agitation by Ghazni residents.
ENDS
