Law Giving Privileges to Afghan MPS Approved

The law will give Afghan members of parliament --- a house, political identity cards for them and their families, health insurance and extra travel packages during tours and official visits.

After a heated debate the law was passed by the parliament joint commission after two articles were removed – a 25 percent retirement salary and the assignment of two security guards to each MP.

Member of Parliament Musa Khan Nasrat believes the law is fair.

“There are seats reserved in the parliament for women, this is viewed by the public as positive prejudice for women.  This law is the same—it is positive prejudice to make sure that the MPs lives a respectable life.”

But the public does not see it that way.

Outside the parliament the hundreds of people protested in disappointed.

They yell--- ‘the people are hungry and our MPs are only thinking about themselves.’

Civil society activist Kamal Sadat is one of the protestors. 

“This is just for their own benefit.  It shows how out of touch they are with people.  Why are they eager to have political identity cards and passports? Perhaps so they can escape the country after doing crimes here.”

University student Muhammad Samim says politicians should live among the people who they are meant to serve.

“We have lots of poor people who badly need help; the government should pay attention to them. If a teacher can live on a hundred dollars a month why can’t a MP do that the same?  Most politicians have their own businesses and are already rich people.”

Muqadas Atalwala chief of Afghan women education center is calling on the president not to approve the law. 

“we will never accept this law and will continue to fight against it till our last drop of blood.  We will not let knew spent the people’s money like this and receive these kind of privileges. ”  

MP Ramazan Basher Doost was one of 8 MPs who voted against the law.

He says he will be working to make sure it does not get implemented.

“I hope civil society and public pressure is going to increase and we see protests everywhere in universities, schools and offices.  We must stop the parliament from introducing this law.”

If the president does not approve the law, the parliament has the authority to approve it will majority two thirds vote.