MPs kick up ruckus over use of dog to search assembly

KABUL members on Saturday kicked up a ruckus over the use of a sniffer dog to search the lower house ahead of 1^st Vice-President Mohammad Qasim Fahim’s arrival to introduce some ministers-designate.

Fahim introduced to the lower house President Hamid Karzai’s five cabinet picks and two nominees for the Supreme Court High Council for a vote of confidence.

Prior to his arrival in the national assembly, security officials used a dog to search the parliament building, lawmakers said, calling the move an insult to the august house.

Ghulam Hussain Nasiri, who represents central Maidan Wardak province, strongly condemned the use of the dog and asked the administrative board to investigate the matter.

“When I arrived, security officials did not let me enter the house. I saw the dog entering the assembly.”

Outspoken lawmaker from Kabul Ramazan Bashardost also called the incident an insult to the house. “Everyone … Karzai, Fahim or Khalili should not be allowed to enter if they slight the house.”

His colleague from western Herat province, Munawar Badaari, warned that if the administrative board did not probe the incident, lawmakers would act on their own.

Several others legislators also lashed out at the incident and asked the board to investigate it.

But First Deputy Speaker Mirwais Yasini, who chaired the session, assured the protesting public representatives the administrative board would probe the issue.

For his part, Fahim said security officials did not act on their own to search the house, but they had been directed by security organs to do so.

“I firmly believe in God’s decision; I’m not that weak.” Fahim said about the use of the sniffer dog to detect explosives in the lower house building.

ma/mud

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