Afghan senators to get India lesson

Afghanistan has sent 94 of the 102 members of its Upper House, Meshrano Jirga, for a training in legislative and budgetary processes to the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training here.

Thirty-four people in the Jirga are elected for four years by provincial councils. Another set of one-third members is elected by district councils for three years. The remaining 34 are nominated by the President for five years. Half of the Presidential nominees have to be women.

Secretary-General of Meshrano Jirga Mohammad Kazim Malwan said, "When we felt the need for sharing our parliamentary experience vis-a-vis important issues like legislation and executive accountability with another country, we had two options — India and Turkey. We decided on India, given the country's strong system of democracy."

Sharing his experience, Senator Abdul Hanan Haqwayoon said that terrorism was the biggest hurdle the members of Parliament faced in discharging their duties.

Senator Rafiullah Haidari said, "The Afghan Parliament is not as strong as the Indian Parliament because we don't have a multi-party system — we are elected as independents."

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