A number of MPs in the Wolesi Jirga (the Lower House of Parliament) said during Monday’s session that disagreements between government and political parties, especially regarding the elections, has resulted in a crisis.

MPs raised concerns over the issue and said the disagreements between the two entities were of no benefit to the nation and that both sides must resolve their problems urgently.  

“Disagreements on a government leadership level, and disagreements with the political parties, is another crisis in addition to Afghanistan’s security situation,” parliament speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said. 

The MPs were however divided over the issue and some supported government while others back the political parties.  

Some MPs said it was a tactic on the part of political parties in order to gain more privileges from government by opposing national issues such as elections. 

“Now once again the political parties want to put pressure on government so that they can benefit,” MP Nader Khan Katawazai said. 

“If the rights of our innocent people go to the pockets of a few elders (party leaders), it is not fair,” said another MP Shukria Paikan. 

Other MPs however accused government and the Independent Election Commission (IEC) of rigging the voter registration process and said political parties have the right to call for the suspension of electoral activities. 

These MPs said political parties are only thinking about the future of the country and that their move was positive. 

“The members of the political parties who were reluctant to even talk to each other on the phone in the past, have now come together under one roof and for the future of the country. This is a good step for development,” MP Abdul Sattar Darzabi said. 

“I think it is a positive move. Those who were shooting each other yesterday are today sitting together and taking joint decisions,” MP Obaidullah Barekzai said. 

The Disagreement

Afghanistan’s main political parties on Saturday claimed the current voter registration process is riddled with irregularities and called for all electoral activities to be suspended.

The remarks were made at a gathering in Kabul involving Jamiat-e-Islami, Hizb-e-Islami, Hizb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami, Mahaz-e-Milli party, Islamic National Movement of Afghanistan and a few other parties. 

Members of the parties held discussions on issues related to the elections and then issued a statement in which they called on government and the Independent Election Commission (IEC) tosuspend the voter registration process and all other electoral activities. 

They also called for changes to be brought to the electoral system, the suspension of the voter registration process, rolling out a biometric system for voter registration and declaring each province a single constituency.  

“This registration process that cannot stop fraud should be declared invalid as soon as possible and a new registration process should be launched using biometric technology,” said Assadullah Sadati, a representative of the Hizb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami party. 

“We will use all ways and possibilities to stop this process which will create a crisis,” said Ehsanullah Sediqi, a member of the executive team of Mahaz-e-Milli party.

A day after the political parties’ gathering, President Ashraf Ghani held a press conference and blasted them for having called for the suspension of electoral activities. 

Ghani said Afghanistan’s constitution will be implemented regarding elections and no Loya Jirga will be called regarding Presidential elections. 

Ghani also said that the outcome of the elections cannot be determined by a single sector, but that Afghans as a nation need to determine the outcome.

“Who are the political parties that speak on behalf of the nation and who elects them? When has the nation given them (political parties) the right to represent the nation? I am the president of the Afghan nation and I came to this through the votes of the Afghan nation,” Ghain said.

Ghani in turn called on political parties to support the election process. 

“Because I have patience, it does not mean that I'm afraid and it doesn’t mean that anyone can come along and say they have the right to run the country; are they (political parties) responsible for the tragedy? Are they responsible for the crisis? Or not? If they want to boycott the elections, then who are they? Once again I reiterate there is no alternative except for the nation to vote,” Ghani added.

Parliament Discussion on Security Forces Fatalities

Parliament members also on Monday discussed the security situation, particularly that relating to ongoing battles in parts of the country, and said the high fatality rate among security forces wasdisastrous. 

The MPs blasted security officials over poor war management and said they should come to parliament to respond to questions.  

Parliament speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi and a number of MPs said in the last week about 100 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers have been killed in Kunduz province alone and over 50 others have been killed in Jalriz district in Maidan Wardak province in recent days. 

“In the last week we have lost about 100 soldiers from the army in Kunduz,” Ibrahimi said. 

Reports indicate that currently heavy fighting between Taliban and security forces is ongoing in Farah, Badakhshan, Faryab, Ghazni, Maidan Wardak and a number of other provinces. 

“We, the Badakhshan MPs, in the last two days transferred more than 11 bodies to Badakhshan. Unfortunately, our people today are in a situation that they thank their MPs for arranging the transportation of bodies of fallen soldiers to their home province,” MP Fawzia Kofi said. 

“A big part of such a crisis and the killing of our soldiers happens because of poor war management and the lack of cooperation among the leadership in the security and defense departments,” MP Abdul Qayyum Sajjadi said. 

Security departments meanwhile said the MPs are right to raise concerns over the high casualty figures and said they would address the problem. 

“The reason why our security forces are dying is because the terrorists, mafia and insurgents are trying to destroy the support systems provided to Afghanistan by the international community and Islamic countries,” Mohammad Radmanish, the defense ministry’s spokesman said. 

The MPs said one of the reasons for the heavy clashes around the country was because of the unilateral ceasefire by President Ashraf Ghani last month. The MPs said this ceasefire provided the Taliban with the chance of reinforcing their numbers and they are now stronger than before.