MPs split on abolishing IARCSC

KABUL — lower house of parliament — debate on on the fate of the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Services Commission (IARCSC) ended on an inconclusive note on Saturday.

The assembly has tasked the Special Investigation Commission (SIC) and judicial organs to investigate IARCC activities and present their report to MPs so they could decide on the panel’s fate.

SIC Secretary Abdul Hafiz Mansur said in his report though the commission had made some achievements, yet it had been a source of promoting corruption.

He added since every ministry had a human resource department, there was no need for IARCSC to continue. The commission had been created at a time when it was needed, he recalled.

In accordance with the Bonn Agreement and a subsequent presidential decree, the panel was established a decade ago under Article 50 of the Constitution.

Mansur believed the commission was no longer needed, insisting the parliament was authorised to dissolve it. His view was supported by the Justice and Judicial Commission representative, Abdul Rauf.

But a lawmaker from central Parwan province, Sadiq Ahmad Usmani, said only the president had the power to create or dissolve such bodies under Article 64.

“If we dissolve the commission and the government refuses to uphold our decision, there will be a confrontation,” he warned, urging the house not to overstep its mandate.

Other legislators echoed Usmani’s remarks, saying the president was authorised by the constitution to dissolve the commission.

But Mir Bat Khan Mangal, a lawmaker from western Herat province, said the house had been funding the IARCSC and it had the authority to dissolve it.

Other MPs were of the view the commission should be abolished due to corruption allegations against it.

After a prolonged debate, Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi asked SIC and the Justice and Judicial Commission to prepare legislation on the subject and distribute copies of the draft to all parliamentary panels.

He asked parliamentary commissions to present a consensus report on the IARCSC fate to the assembly.

Mansur accused the parliamentary administrative board of supporting the government to block IARCSC dissolution. He said the draft on IARCSC would be prepared by Wednesday, but the board would include it in the agenda at a time when the house lacked quorum.

ma/mud

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