KABUL (SW): The Masharano Jirga (upper house) on Tuesday approved with majority the presidential decree on electoral reforms with some amendments.
In his legislative decree, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani proposed the term in office of the electoral commission chief for two and a half years. The house however, approved the term to be for three years.
The house has further amended the decree by removing the term ‘Independent’ from the electoral complaint commission among other amendments.
The senators said in their remarks that the approval by the house would pave the way for timely and fair elections in the country. The MJ members noted that people are less optimistic about electoral reforms during the elections.
Faisal Sami, a member of the house stressed that the government has a number of vital global conferences ahead of it. He added that the government should have some developments regarding the elections to present there.
Mohammad Rahim, another member said that he believes the two leaders of the Government of National Unity lack the will and resolve to bring reforms or be on the same page about the elections.
Since the Presidential decree on electoral reform has been rejected by the Wolesi Jirga (lower house), but now approved by the Masharano Jirga, it would now be taken-up in the joint commission of the two houses for the final decision.
ENDS
