The parliament of Afghanistan on Saturday rejected president Hamid Karzai’s decree for the reservation of a seat for the Hindu and Sikh minority in the parliament of Afghanistan.
The presidential decree was placed for the endorsement in the parliament house by legislative commission on Saturday, which was rejected by majority.
The lawmakers called the reservation of a seat for the Hindu and Sikh minorities against the Articles 22 and 83 of the constitution, and suggested that Hindus and Sikhs should contest for the elections in a bid to secure a seat in the parliament house.
In the meantime, a number of the lawmakers speaking in the favor of president Hamid Karzai’s decree, insisted that a seat for the Hindu and Sikh minorities should be reserved.
Ahmad Behzad, lawmaker representing Herat province in the Afghan parliament said that a seat should be reserved for the Hindu and Sikh minorities, considering the reservation of 10 seats for the Kochis (nomads).
MP Gulalai Noor Saif who reprents northern Balkh province in the Afghan parliament also urged that the political rights of the Hindu and Sikh minorities should not be taken from them.
However, the decree was rejected by 73 lawmakers out of 130 present lawmakers who had attended the Saturday’s session.
President Hamid Karzai had signed the legislative decree earlier in September this year, which states that the government shall issue legislative decrees in case of immediate needs during the house representatives recess.
The legislative decree was issued in accordance with the Article 79 of the Afghan constitution and electoral law, however Afghan lawmakers argue that the decree is in conflict with the Article 83 of the constitution, which states that members of the parliament are elected through elections.