Female MPs brawl in parliament

KABUL lawmaker after a verbal clash during Tuesday’s session, but shocked colleagues pulled them apart.

Zaki threw a water bottle at fellow MP Hamida Ahmadzai. A stunned Ahmadzai chucked a bottle back towards Zaki, who then launched herself at Ahmadzai, trying to grab her around the neck and delivering a series of punches to her face as lawmakers gathered for the morning session.

Ahmadzai tried to fight back as male MPs rushed in to break up the fight.

MPs were mostly tight-lipped over the embarrassing incident that took place as British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the capital Kabul and held talks with President Hamid Karzai over peace talks with the Taliban.

One MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the fight started over the reputation of Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim, one of Afghanistan’s most powerful warlords, who is alleged to have been involved in crime and corruption.

Tuesday’s session was to discuss why the government does not heed the decisions made by the MPs. Some angry lawmakers even demanded Karzai’s resignation. 

A representative from Farah province, Samiullah Samimi, said that it’s time to implement Article 69 of the Constitution. 

Article 69 of Afghanistan Constitution states that accusations of crime against humanity, national treason or crime can be leveled against the President by one third of the members of Wolesi Jirga, within one month, to dissmiss the president. 

However, Deputy parliamentary secretary Mohammad Farhad Azimi said he was not sure what sparked the fight.

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