Seats reserved for women; no foreigner on ECC

KABUL): A joint commission of both houses of th parliament on Monday approved the draft election law with some amendments after a prolonged debate.

The panel okayed remaining controversial articles of the law after a majority of members voted in their favour, said Nazir Ahmad Hanafi, who headed the 14-member delegation.

The joint commission was established to resolve differences between the two houses on some clauses and send the law for approval to the president.

Most members agreed to set aside 20 percent of seats for women on provincial, district and village councils, according to Hanafi, who said 25 percent seats had been reserved for females in the original draft.

The delegation rejected the reservation of a seat for the Hindu minority and approved seven constituencies for the nomadic Kuchi tribe instead of 10. Hanafi said the law would be sent to the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.

Also passed by the panel was a bill giving the Electoral Complaints Commission more power and independence. The law outlines the role and structure of the election commission, Fayiq said.

The five-member ECC representatives and political parties.

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