Mohammmad Natiqi, head of the political agreement oversight commission, Sunday said that there is no second option for amending the constitution except a Loya Jirga.
The political agreement was sealed between leaders of the national unity government in the wake of the 2014 presidential election deadlock. At the time, the two leaders pledged to call for a Loya Jirga within two years to amend the constitution so as to establish an office of prime minister.
Despite calls for an emergency Jirga, Natiqi said that the call was unacceptable.
Meanwhile, a number of legal experts have also raised their voices over the need for a Jirga to be convened. They have said a Jirga will determine the legitimacy and credibility of the national unity government.
However, it is believed that the NUG is somewhat hesitant to convene such a Jirga.
Based on Article 2 of the political agreement, which was signed in September 2014, by President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah, the NUG is obliged to convene such a Jirga to amend the constitution within two years.
“Convening an emergency Loya Jirga is unacceptable, the parliamentary and district council elections need to be held and then the constitutional Loya Jira must be called,” said Mohammad Natiqi, head of the political agreement overseeing commission.
“The government continues its job in a legal vacuum, the Loya Jirga needs to be held to clarify the fate of the chief executive office,” said legal expert Gul Ahmad Madazai.
Meanwhile, the presidential palace said it is determined to hold a Jirga.
“The government of Afghanistan is determined to convene the constitutional Loya Jirga, and we are trying to complete all the necessary conditions which reflect the constitution of Afghanistan including the parliamentary and district council elections,” said Sayed Zafar Hashemi, deputy presidential spokesman.
Government representatives, lawmakers and members of the provincial councils form a Jirga. But the problem is that the legal tenure of the parliament has expired and it has impacted on holding of the Jirga. But there are some ideas that holding an emergency Loya Jirga could be an alternative.http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/26515-no-option-for-constitutional-amendment-except-a-jirga-official
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