Disqualified MPs have one month to appeal: SC

KABUL): The Supreme Court said Sunday that lawmakers who were disqualified Thursday in the wake of a special court’s decision have one month to challenge the verdict.

The special election tribunal, a panel of five judges, on Thursday disqualified 62 of the 249 members of the lower house on charges of fraud during last year’s parliamentary election. Based on the results of a vote recount, the special court announced new winners, who may replace the sitting ones.

A spokesman for the Supreme Court, Abdul Wakeel Omri, told Pajhwok Afghan News the 62 disqualified MPs had a month to appeal the decision, which was announced on June 23. He said the tribunal was formed legally to resolve a political crisis.

But the unseated lawmakers said they did not accept the legitimacy of the court and would not appeal its verdict.

One of the affected MPs, Mohammad Sarwar Usmani, said the special court had no legal status and they would not challenge its decision for being illegal.

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