Saturday July 19, 2014
Kabul (BNA) Saturday last, the members of parliament (MPs) ratified a law under the title of “Parliament Members’ Rights and Safety). In these days, a great number of social networks reflected it more. This law that considers special privileges for MPs in and after their tenure caused the wrath and indignation of witnesses and civil society. This law is considered in four chapters and 20 articles that ratified by MPs themselves with majority of votes. A limited number of parliament members expressed their opposition against ratification of this law. According to this law, the safety of MPs is considered after termination of their duty as MP and also their monthly privileges and rights. This law is including of two parts. First part is including of rights, privileges, safety and the responsibility the MP is obliged during their official tenure. Second parts is including of privileges offered to MP after termination of their tenure.
According to this law, after termination of MP tenure, they are deserving of two bodyguards and lifetime political passport. Likewise, family members of MP would enjoy from in-services passport. Another privilege of this law is this that the MPs are invited in all official ceremonies and they can attend as national personalities in those ceremonies. Similarly, if a MP has no official job, he earns 25 percent of their main salary that is equivalent to Afs, 50,000 per month as lifetime. Eight MPs opposed to this law and also majority of our compatriots expressed their harsh opposition against it. The human rights and eradication of violence institution of Afghanistan regarded endorsement of the law of safety and rights of MPs against national interest of the country and ask from senate and president of Afghanistan not to initial and confirm it. Ms. Nahid Farid, a MPs also regarded this law in contradiction with constitution of Afghanistan as well as in present situation is opposed to social and economic situation of the people of Afghanistan.
She believes that a MP safety should be maintained, because, of being a MP and representing from people. But, when his/her tenure is over, their safety doesn’t guarantee. It is not possible a huge quantity of government budget be spent for their safety. These MPs also added that when our national budget is funded 70 percent through international community and our partners, how we endorse such law. While, our people need school, road, clinic etc. we should remove the requirements of our people not to think about our own family members. Allotment of 25 percent MPs privileges and salaries per month is a great persecution against poor people of Afghanistan. This female MP calculating the average life time of a MP as 20 years, the figure of their privileges estimates $240 million. Through this money we can remove parts of problem faced by our poor people during their daily life. Making such efforts by MPs reduces their credit among their clients.
She continued that despite I am against this law, I am very glad that the people expressed their reaction against it. Today’s people are not ten years back ones and any one does what they want. In connection with ratification of this law, one of MPs said that according to the constitution of the country, all nationals of Afghanistan are the same before the law and are enjoying from equal privilege. Giving special privileges to a special class itself is fleeing from the law. According to media, this is for the first time that in a general meeting, the MPs to ratify sans any dispute a law while, ratification of other laws took even months. This is in a time that fortunately, this law is refuted last Saturday by senate members.
