Seeking asylum in Canada, long absent MP receiving pay

KABUL member from northwestern Faryab province has been in a foreign country where she has applied for political asylum but continues to receive her salary and other privileges over the past 14 months.

Some Wolesi Jirga members, on the condition of anonymity, said that lawmaker Rangina Kargar traveled to the US four months back on a political passport and from there she moved to Canada where she was seeking asylum.

The lawmakers said Rangina received her salary and other cash privileges during the period and even she was marked present in the attendance book of the house until now.

According to the Wolesi Jirga secretariat, every lawmaker gets 203,000afs salary and other cash privileges monthly. In addition a lawmaker is paid 90,000afs for four security guards, a driver and secretary.

Based on this calculation of the past 14 months, Rangina has received over 2.8 million afs in her salary and cash privileges while more than 1.2 million for her security guards, driver and secretary.

Yama Yara, assistant head of Finance and Admin office of the Wolesi Jirga secretariat, confirmed to Pajhwok that Rangina had received her salary, cash privileges and security guards salary for the past 14 months.

When asked why Rangina’s salary and other privileges are paid while she remains absent, he said as per the law, the salary and privileges of a member could not be withheld until a formal letter regarding the cancelation of his/her seat is issued.

Pajhwok tried to contact Asadullah Shabaz, secretary of Wolesi Jirga, but he was not available for comment.

Another Wolesi Jirga member, wishing not to be named, said that Rangina’s husband was head of the Wolesi Jirga speaker office, therefore she might not be marked absent in the attendance book

“Her husband has told the administrative penal that Rangina is sick, but in real she is in foreign and has applied for asylum,” according to the member.

This report has been produced by Pajhwok and financially supported by UNDP and Denmark.

Nh/ma