Sources within the Afghan Ministry of Interior on Saturday accused some lawmakers in the country’s parliament for being involved in illegal imports of vehicles.

The Ministry of Finance has stopped over 1000 such vehicles at customs over the past few months, but some members of parliament are trying to use their political leverage to escape custom taxes and get these vehicles on the market, said the source.

“Those who are supposed to be drafting the laws are violating the laws,” said Shoaib, a Kabul resident.

Based on the traffic law, a license plate is intended for only for one car, but in some cases the lawmakers are using a single license plate—one that allows special privileges--for several cars and even allowing their relatives to use the plate.

Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of the Afghan parliament, uses a single number plate for four vehicles. The special plate allows him privileges in terms of security .

“The position of a lawmaker is superior to the position of a minister. I am compelled to keep guards for my security,” said Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of the parliament.

Meanwhile, another parliamentarian, Fida Mohammad Ulfat Saleh, has acknowledged that he uses several vehicles with the same plate.

“Yes, I have three vehicles, but all the vehicle identifications are shared with the security institutions,” said MP Fida Mohammad Ulfat Saleh.

But Abasin, a resident of Kabul, says of MPs: “They are not abiding by the law, they never respect traffic laws.”