The findings of a joint survey by the Pajhwok Afghan News Agency and Afghanistan’s Lawyers Union (ALU) shows that in the last 14 years 94 articles of the constitution have been violated.  

According to the report, out of the total 38 articles of the second chapter of the constitution, which is about the rights and obligations of the citizens, 32 articles have been violated. 

The survey was conducted nationwide and 898 people were interviewed. Four out of ten interviewed said they had no knowledge about the constitution.

According to the report, 58 percent of the constitution has been violated in the past 14 years. 

“There are people who do not know about the constitution, even about one article. Also some others know a little about one article, some others know part of it and some others know more about it,” Abdul Qadir Munsif, Pajhwak’s senior editor said.

The report states that five articles which are about the authorities of the president have been violated by President Ashraf Ghani and former president Hamid Karzai. 

“Five articles belonging to the president have been violated. Such as the issue of elections. The articles specified when a president’s job is finished, but the last three elections were not held on time,” Ajmal Hoodman, head of Afghanistan’s Lawyers Union said. 

The presidential palace said in reaction to the report that most of the articles were violated by the former government and that the National Unity Government (NUG) is trying to end all violations of the constitution. 

Insecurity and corruption have been highlighted as the main reasons behind the problem. 

“People want the law to be implemented, whether it be of the constitution or other approved laws,” director of Pajhwak, Danish Karokhail said. 

“Our recommendation regarding the violation and the violator is that the criminal code or another law should be prepared to ensure the law is enforced and to punish the violators,” Mohammad Basir Haqyar, deputy head of Afghanistan’s Lawyer Union said.