KABUL (Pajhwok): The Mesharano Jirga or Senate on Tuesday demanded a free, fair and accurate investigation into bribery allegation against three senators.
The National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the Attorney General Office (AGO) in a joint statement on Monday claimed arresting three senators for allegedly receiving bribe in the Hairatan Port of northern Balkh province.
The joint statement did not name the arrested senators, but according to sources they include Mohammad AzeemQoyash, Mohammad Anwar Bashleq and LiqatullahBabakarkehl.
Qoyash is public representative from Sar-i-Pul province, Bashleq hails from Faryab and Babakarkhel from Khost province — the latter two senators had been picked by the president for Senate membership.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Upper House acknowledged its three members had been arrested by NDS and AGO officials in Balkh province.
According to the statement, the Upper House demands implementation of article 102 of the constitution in this case as the house was not fully informed over what led to the arrest of its members.
Article 102 of the constitution says: “If a member of the National Assembly is accused of a crime, the responsible official shall inform the House of which the accused is a member, and the accused shall be legally prosecuted. In case of an evident crime, the responsible official shall legally pursue and arrest the accused without the permission of the House of which the accused is a member.
In both cases, if the legal prosecution requires detention, the responsible official shall immediately inform the respective House and obtain its approval. If the accusation takes place during an Assembly recess, the permission for arrest or detention shall be obtained from the administrative board of the respective House, and the issue shall be referred to the first session of the aforementioned House for decision.”
The Upper House hoped the incident would be investigated in line with laws in a fair, free and just manner so that justice is implemented in a smooth manner.
The Mesharano Jirga also appointed a delegation to contact the NDS, AGO regarding the arrest of its three members.
Separately, Vice President AmrullahSaleh said that the three senators had been arrested red handed while receiving bribe.
Nh/ma
