Public Indignation

The upper house took note of an outpouring of public anger over the lower house’s decision last week to approve new privileges for lawmakers. The upper house took note of an outpouring of public anger over the lower house’s decision last week to approve new privileges for lawmakers.
On July 15, the Mishrano Jirga voted against the new law giving additional privileges to members of Parliament (MPs) including those whose terms have ended. MPs were voting on paying former MPs a quarter of their salaries, and providing them with political passports and two armed guards for their protection. MPs are paid a salary of 195,000 Afs (3,380 USD).
Will Parliament try to get the privileges through amendments?
Mohammad Naseh, a lecture in the law and political science faculty of Kabul University, sees the draft law as unconstitutional. “This is not legal that the nation would be hungry but ex-parliamentarians would have amazing privileges,” he observes.
Political critic Mohammad Ibrahim Najibi wonders how a salary for erstwhile MPs can be justified when they are doing no work. “These are efforts to get personal privileges. There is no benefit for the nation,” he says.
Groups of youth and civil society activists demonstrated in Nangarhar, Herat, Kandahar and Khost. Also there was a protest in front of the Parliament building.
Saleha, 22, a student in a private university who participated in a protest, accuses MPs of thinking only of themselves. “The nation is even unhappy that each MP gets 195,000 Afs,” she says. Saleha wants the MPs who drafted the new law to be punished. “Our economy is going to suffer with the shrinking of foreign aid. Strategies for economic growth should have been suggested – not more privileges for MPs,” she says.
Another protestor Subhanullah who earns 5,000 Afs (86 USD) a month, and gets no benefits from the government for the education of his six children, rues the state of affairs. “I know a poor teacher who has worked for 25 years. When he got to hear about the new draft the man wept. He doesn’t have a home of his own, and here our representatives are thinking of more privileges,” he says.
Abdul Baqi from Bamyan, who is also a teacher, is also disappointed. “If this draft ever gets legal shape I will not vote in an election.”