KABUL(SW): Based on a conclusion made in the previous session of the Wolesi Jirga (lower house), Abdul Rahim Ayubi, a parliamentarian, was due to reveal the names of the members he blamed taking bribes from the higher-ups but when he came to the parliament he faced closed doors.
Today (Saturday), while coming to the parliament Ayubi said that he would reveal the names of the ‘corrupt’ parliamentarians with evidence. He told reporters that the closed doors of the parliament indicated that the MPs did not wish the names of their fellow parliamentarians to be disclosed.
Ayubi said a week ago on the floor of the house that a number of parliamentarians were deeply involved in corruption. He charged that when a minister is summoned, a number of parliamentarians take bribe and that is why such sessions end inconclusive.
Some representatives however, said that such ‘baseless’ claims defame the parliament and its members. Abdul Rauf Ebrahimi, speaker for the WJ, asked Ayubi last week to present his evidence against the corrupt parliamentarians and reveal their names.
Meanwhile, a number of parliamentarians said that the reason for the parliament’s closed doors today was that the second deputy and chief of the house were abroad and the first deputy was in Nangarhar.
Shir Wali Wardak, a WJ member, criticized the closed doors and complained of the poor management of the house. Abdul Qayum Sajadi, another member of the house, said that the parliament should not suppress people’s voice. He said that there are numerous challenges and problems in the country, but delaying the session shows that even this house is not in order.
According to the Constitution, sessions in the either house of the parliament can only held when the speaker or at least one of his deputies are present in the house.
ENDS
