http://www.bamdad.af/ en Copyright 2012 news Bamdad News - Afghanistan http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1766 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1766#When:05:12:56Z Wed, 16 May 2012 05:12:56 +0000 Parliament, By Asar Hakimi
Mass media outlets have grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade in Afghanistan and more and more Afghans are quickly gaining access to popular social media, namely via Facebook and Twitter. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1644 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1644#When:05:12:50Z Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:12:50 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
Afghan Finance Minister Mohammad Omar Zakhelwal presented the 1391 [March 2012 – January 2013] fiscal year annual budget for approval to the Afghan Parliament on Saturday, February 25, 2012. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1636 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1636#When:07:07:53Z Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:07:53 +0000 Parliament, By Zahir Eztarabi
In the wake of last year’s electoral crisis and controversy over the establishment of a Special Court to adjudicate election related complaints, the Afghan Parliament was divided into two groups: The Coalition for the Support of the Rule of Law (CSRL) and the Reformists. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1628 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1628#When:05:18:50Z Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:18:50 +0000 Parliament, By Hamidullah Habibi
With the parliament again in session, lawmakers are enthusiastic to carry out their main duties during the upcoming year. But many analysts believe that the Wolesi Jirga remains weakened and politically marred from internal disputes which characterized its first legislative year. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1618 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1618#When:05:03:54Z Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:03:54 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
The Afghan Parliament began its second legislative year on Saturday, January 12. According to Article 107 of the Afghan Constitution, the legislature has two working rounds and two seasonal recesses. Each working round lasts four and half months and each recess lasts one and half months. Usually the winter recess begins in early December and ends in mid January. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1573 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1573#When:04:26:21Z Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:26:21 +0000 Parliament, By Zahir Eztarabi
Winter recess provides an opportunity for Afghan parliamentarians to go to the provinces and meet with their constituents. But many citizens see recess as a relaxing time for the MPs.  The lawmakers reject such allegations claiming that they visit their constituents during seasonal recesses to listen to their problems and seek solutions. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1515 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1515#When:09:36:30Z Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:36:30 +0000 Parliament, By Zahir Eztarabi
A group of Afghan officials travels to South Africa to study that country’s electoral system – and bring home some ideas. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1482 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1482#When:05:13:52Z Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:13:52 +0000 Parliament, By Hamidullah Habibi
Over the past year a series of clashes over the 2010 Parliamentary elections has paralyzed the legislature and brought the executive, judiciary and legislative branches into prolonged conflict. The following is a series of interviews in which www.bamdad.af asks ordinary Afghan citizens about their own views and attitudes towards the current political conflict. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1478 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1478#When:07:16:17Z Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:16:17 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
Semin Barakzai, whose election to Parliament from Herat was voided by the Independent Election Commission in August, has been on a hunger strike since October 2. She has appealed for a review of her case, and has said she will neither eat nor drink until the government reacts. At this point, Barakzai is in critical condition, and the long-standing conflict between the legislature and the executive looks set to deepen further. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1456 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1456#When:09:22:46Z Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:22:46 +0000 Parliament, By Asar Hakimi
September 18 marked one year exactly since the fraud-stained 2010 Parliamentary elections. In that year, the legislature and the executive branches have been locked in a constant struggle that has prevented Parliament from undertaking any responsible work. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1445 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1445#When:07:21:02Z Tue, 27 Sep 2011 07:21:02 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
Just a few days before the Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced its final decision to remove and replace nine MPs, a new parliamentary group, the “Reformists,” emerged in the Lower House of Parliament. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1426 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1426#When:04:10:30Z Sun, 18 Sep 2011 04:10:30 +0000 Parliament, By Asar Hakimi
Exactly a year after elections, the Parliament is still paralyzed by disagreements over the results. The halls of Parliament are all but empty these days. There is no quorum, so no decisions are possible. One year after the troubled 2010 elections, Afghanistan still has no functioning legislature. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1395 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1395#When:06:25:00Z Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:25:00 +0000 Parliament, By: Asar Hakimi
IEC’s latest decision is supposed to put an end to a long-simmering political crisis in Afghanistan that has pitted the legislature against the executive branch, and effectively paralyzed the Parliament for the past eight months. But many observers feel that this latest decision will merely launch a new round of infighting and recrimination. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1385 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1385#When:07:50:34Z Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:50:34 +0000 Parliament, By Asar Hakimi
Many hope that a new decree by President Hamid Karzai could signal a compromise to end the long-simmering dispute between the legislature and the executive over the results of last September’s Parliamentary elections. But others are equally convinced that the lack of a clear legal ruling will just add to the conflict. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1361 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1361#When:04:29:33Z Sun, 07 Aug 2011 04:29:33 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
The legislature, still locked in conflict with the executive branch, is having little success in exercising its constitutional right to monitor the actions of the central government. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1330 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1330#When:05:15:04Z Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:15:04 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
The ongoing struggle between the legislative and executive branches of government is likely to be extended this summer over the issue of the Loya Jirga, or Grand Assembly. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1324 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1324#When:07:18:42Z Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:18:42 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
In the wake of a controversial decision by the Special Court for the adjudication of electoral fraud, Afghanistan’s Lower House has put aside its differences to force the executive branch to conform to the nation’s Constitution. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1318 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1318#When:04:40:26Z Sat, 16 Jul 2011 04:40:26 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
Following the Special Court’s announcement on June 23 to invalidate the election of one-quarter of all MPs for fraud, Parliament discusses impeachment of the president and trials for Supreme Court justices. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1308 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1308#When:10:29:07Z Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:29:07 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
Parliament reacted harshly to a decision by the Special Court that would exclude close to one quarter of MPs for fraud in last September’s elections. The Speaker of the Lower House, Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, termed the ruling a “tragedy,” while MPs called on Parliament to unite against the Court’s decision. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1283 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1283#When:11:07:58Z Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:07:58 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
Abstract: Both analysts and MPs believe that Parliament was paralyzed in the first session of its work though it was a tough session for parliamentarian. For almost one month, they were not able to elect its Speaker. Then there was the special court which was a common agenda of every session. Approving the budget, trying to summon the Antony General and the Kabul Bank crisis were the other issued discussed in the parliament during this session. Below, we have looked closer over the first session of Parliament and what it did during six months. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1275 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1275#When:04:17:30Z Sat, 25 Jun 2011 04:17:30 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
MPs are having little success in trying to persuade, coax, or force the executive branch to comply with the law. Instead, they say, the government seems intent on imposing its will on the legislature. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1271 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1271#When:06:58:19Z Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:58:19 +0000 Parliament, By Asar Hakimi
The legislature has delayed their holiday until the tensions over the Cabinet and the Special Court are resolved. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1253 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1253#When:08:43:49Z Wed, 08 Jun 2011 08:43:49 +0000 Parliament, By Wahab Sediqi
Seven out of the 25 ministers in the government have never been confirmed by the Parliament, resulting in continuing tension between the legislature and the executive. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1227 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1227#When:04:26:05Z Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:26:05 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
Member of Parliament say that tensions among the branches of government will persist until the president dissolves the Special Court he instituted to adjudicate claims of fraud in last year’s Parliamentary elections. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1164 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1164#When:10:16:21Z Tue, 10 May 2011 10:16:21 +0000 Parliament, Interviewer: Zahir Ezterabi
Afghanistan’s parliamentary election was held in September 18, 2010, which was Afghan led for the first time. The Independent Election Commission (Afghanistan’s electoral governing body) created a Public Outreach Department, which is tasked with the Commission’s civic education and awareness campaigns.  Public outreach is viewed as a critically important element to the IEC’s work by informing citizens and candidates on election-related rules, laws, processes, and the importance of the vote. Now eight months after Afghanistan’s parliamentary election, the IEC continues to move forward with its public outreach agenda.  ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1151 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1151#When:10:14:54Z Sun, 08 May 2011 10:14:54 +0000 Parliament, By Asar Hakimi
The new Parliament has not carved out an independent role for itself, according to both MPs and analysts. All too often it bows to the wishes of the president, which lowers its efficiency and compromises its role of acting as a check on the power of the executive branch. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1126 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1126#When:04:17:34Z Thu, 21 Apr 2011 04:17:34 +0000 Parliament, By Zahir Ezterabi
The Training and Capacity Building Department of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) held the 23th BRIDGE module program training workshop for its public outreach workers on April 9. The main topic covered in the training workshop was Gender and Elections. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/920 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/920#When:09:41:43Z Sun, 27 Feb 2011 09:41:43 +0000 Parliament, Hamidullah Habibi
Kabul residents have shared their views on this issue with www.bamdad.af: ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/863 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/863#When:00:00:00Z Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000 Parliament, By Wahab Sedeqi - Herat
HERAT --The latest Parliamentary elections have shown that no poll in Afghanistan is going to be without complications. Elections in post-conflict countries always pose challenges, but the crisis now brewing in Afghanistan is rare even among troubled emerging democracies. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/822 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/822#When:00:00:00Z Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Parliament, By Hamidullah Habibi
Despite the announcement of the final results, many doubt that the question has been settled. With the publication of the final results of September’s Parliamentary elections, many expected that the long and bitter wrangling over vote counts and fraud would end. But the recent conflict between the Attorney General’s office and the Independent Election Commission (IEC) show that it may be some time before the new Parliament can begin its work. ]]>