The press office of the Meshrano Jirga

January 17, 2021

In the plenary session of the Meshrano Jirga led by the speaker of the House, besides presenting activity reports of some commissions during the first session of the current legislative term of the national council, the discussion was on the current situation of the country.

At the beginning of the session, the oath ceremony of Ms. Rahela Dostum, who was newly appointed to the Senate by the President to place by Fazal Hadi Muslim Yar, Speaker of the Meshrano Jirga, and attended by Deputy High Council of Reconciliation, a number of currents and former cabinet members, some members of the Wolesi Jirga and a number of others organs attended. In the meantime, a farewell ceremony was held with Ms. Sara Sorkhabi, a former senator, and presented to her a certificate of appreciation, and her performance during the fifteen years in the Senate was appreciated.

Furthermore, a number of senators strongly criticized those who raise the voice of the interim government, saying that with the existence of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the constitution being enforced, such a wish is disappointing and that everyone should respect the constitution and other applicable laws to avoid unresolved crises. The senators also supported the peace process and talks in Qatar, calling for the process to be accelerated and for the flexibility of the parties, and the call for a ceasefire.

Thus, the session again expressed concern about the increase in terrorist crimes in Kabul and other provinces, and it was said that a terrorist incident had taken place in Kabul in the last 24 hours alone that unfortunately, two police officers and a female judge were martyred and a number of others were injured, which need more effective efforts should be made to prevent such incident. Some senators have called the holding of the six-and-a-half-morning meeting chaired by the first vice president effective in reducing criminal offenses and said that those who criticize these meetings for personal reasons and benefits, and called for an alternative plan that would work better to fight criminals.

At the session, some members questioned the cause of death of Ghor Provincial Council member Ezatullah Beg in a clash with special national security units, saying that a national security soldier had also been martyred in the clash; The National Security Council delegation is expected to seriously and impartially investigate the incident and share its findings with the people.

The senators welcomed the opening of the Aqina-Andkhoy, fiber-optic and Turkmenistan-Sheberghan railway projects and considered that as major steps in the two countries' economic growth, and welcomed the Experimental Reservoir of the dam of the Kamal Khan Dam in Nimroz province.

Moreover, Emphasis on increasing traffic police to prevent blockage in the Mahiper area, Emphasis on investigating the irregularities in the prison of Faryab province because of the changes made in the management of that prison by the governor of Faryab, Criticism of the removal of public welfare projects from the budget document for the fiscal the year 1400, Emphasis on increasing the salaries of civil servants and military personnel, paying attention to the security situation in Uruzgan province and IDPs in that province and other areas, Criticism of civilian casualties in the bombings and the Taliban for destroying public welfare, including the destruction of roads and other issues were also discussed.

At the end of the discussion, Fazl Hadi Muslim Yar, Speaker of the Meshrano Jirga expressed his condolences to the families affected by the terrorist incidents, saying that the casualties of citizens from all nationalities are unacceptable and should be prevented. He also called on the relevant institutions to take the necessary measures to address the situation of internally displaced persons, including in Uruzgan province. also, Regarding the killing of a Ghor provincial council lawyer, the speaker said that after reviewing the investigation of the delegation, the Meshrano Jirga would express its decision and also stressed that justice and fairness must be ensured in this case. 

Furthermore, referring to the peace process, the Speaker stressed that the position of the Senate on the interim government is clear and does not consider it acceptable and good for the country because Afghanistan has an elected government and the transfer of power must be done through legitimate and legal means.  At the same time, the current situation calls for more work to be done for the unity and the integrity of Afghanistan.

At the end of the session, the working reports of the second legislative session of the Legislative Commissions on Defense and Internal Security, Transportation, Telecommunications, Women's Affairs and Civil Society was presented by Senators Mahmoud Khan Khakrizwal, Lotfollah Baba and Ms. Soheila Sharifi, which their details will be released in the news of the commissions.