 Hectic debate was again triggered in the lower house of parliament on the fate of three ministers who have got less than 50 per cent votes but approved by the House on Saturday. The three included Communication Minister Amirzai Sangeen, Minister for Refugees' Affairs Ustad Akbar Akbar and Minister for Urban Development Yousuf Pashtun have got 120/244, 118/244 and 121/244 votes respectively. Some MPs objected their approval as minister arguing that they remained short of getting 50 per cent 'yes' votes; however, the imbroglio was resolved on Saturday when majority of legislators again approved them through show of hand.
The MPs on Sunday clashed over the issue whether to reverse the process in respect of the three ministers. However, the session was adjourned by the speaker without reaching a consensus. To untie the tangle, the legislators during their speeches, forwarded four suggestions: To hold voting afresh for the three people; to assign a commission of law-makers to amicably decide the issue; and to outrightly accept or reject them as ministers. Today's debate ended without defining the 'majority' by the parliamentarians. Many advocated only simple majority was enough to approve a nominated person as minister, while others argued that the hopeful must obtain 50 per cent votes.
| I think they mean a "simple plurality" (assuming there were more than two candidates for the positions) rather than a "simple majority," which would still carry the idea of more than 50 percent of the vote. They're either hazy on the concept or hazy of defining what they actually mean. |
Challenging the approval of the three ministers, MP from Kabul Kabir Ranjbar said majority meant more than 50 per cent votes for a candidate. He said he was ready to defend his stance even in the international court. "I'm not against the three individuals, but the decision is contrary to the constitution," said Ranjbar. Earlier, some 20 members of the parliament left the House to mark their protest against restarting debate on an issue, which they believed, had already been decided.
| Since it's Afghanistan we're discussing, I consider it a great thing that nobody went for his guns or rocketed Kabul. |
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