KABUL (SW): The Wolesi Jirga (lower house) on Wednesday approved a draft law elaborating the circumstances during which the President can issue decree on different matters.
Experts on legal affairs however, criticizing the move noted that the Constitution already has a set of rules and regulation for the Presidential decree hence there was no need for the WJ to ponder on this issue.
During the session on Wednesday, a number of the parliamentarians opposed the approval of the draft law.
Taking part in the debate, Nasima Niazi, a female member of the house said that the voting on this draft law violated the Constitution as authorities of the president and parliamentarians are clearly marked in it and there is no need for further explanations.
Kamal Nasir, another member of the house called the approval of this bill a mockery on the law and legal affairs.
Commenting on it, Kabir Ranjbar, an expert on legal affairs told Salam Watandar that the house has approved a draft law that was actually not needed. He noted that the Article 79 of the Constitution clearly marks when and how can the president issue a direct decree and the draft law approved by the house is not above the Constitution.
Defending the draft law, Abdul Satar Khawasi, a member of the house said that the approved bill adds to the already existing laws that the president cannot issue a decree if laws related to an issue exist.
It is worth noticing the parliament recently rejected President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s decree on electoral reforms by calling it politically motivated move aimed at dividing the electoral bodies among the leaders of the Government of National Unity.
The house has rejected up to 10 Presidential decrees issued on different matters by the President.
ENDS
