MPs warn of boycott over special court verdict

KABUL members warned on Tuesday of boycotting house and launching a protest movement if any lawmaker was disqualified by a special election court.

The five-judge special court has been tasked with looking into complaints of irregularities and fraud in last year’s parliamentary election. MPs fear 80 of the 249 members could be disqualified.

But Asadullah Sadati, a legislator from central Dai Kundi province, told Pajhwok Afghan News that 140 members had signed an agreement to quit the jirga and go on strike if a single lawmaker was unseated.

Expecting more colleagues to join them, he said copies of the agreement had been sent to the president, the Supreme Court, media outlets and other relevant organisations.

Asked why they supported those allegedly involved in poll fraud, Sadati replied all allegations had already been investigated by the Election Complaints Commission (ECC). No other institution had the right to challenge the ECC decision, he explained.

Another member, Mohammad Arif Rahmani from southern Ghazni province, echoed Sadati’s statement. “More than 100 MPs, including me, have signed the agreement,” he said.

Lawmakers have been urging President Hamid Karzai to dissolve the special court, calling the panel an illegal entity.

When contacted, a spokesman for the apex court, Abdul Wakeel Omari, said the special had not yet delivered its verdict, and it would be premature to make predictions and draw conclusions at this stage.

ma/mud

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