After presidential decree, 3 PCs return to work

KABUL (Pajhwok): Following President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s decree allowing provincial councils (PC)s to evaluate the local administration’s performance, the elected bodies in three provinces reopened their offices, officials said on Tuesday.

About one and a half month ago, the Wolesi Jirga barred the councils from monitoring the performance of local governments. The decision prompted PC members to shut their offices.

A week back, President Ghani issues a decree giving back the provincial councils the right to oversee the performance of local departments. Subsequently, PCs in Baghlan, Jawzjan and Bamyan provinces have returned to work.

Bamyan council head Tayyeba Khawari told Pajhwok Afghan News: “We welcome the presidential directive and want it approved by the parliament forthwith”

She said hundreds of people shared their problems with the council on a daily basis but the public representatives had been left helpless by Wolesi Jirga’s decision.

Jawzjan PC head Abdulhai Hayat said the right to evaluate local governance was vital to the council, whose existence would be meaningless in the absence of such powers.

Baghlan council head Ferozuddin Emaq said the presidential orders had enabled them to resolve people’s problems. He hoped an effective check on the local government would help stem corruption.

Sayed Abul Rahman, head of Kabul provincial council, announced an end to their strike at a press conference on Sunday. He said: “After the president’s decree, we have decided to reopen our offices and resume work.”

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