Senators held on bribery charges granted bail

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Attorney General’s office (AGO) said on Sunday that three lawmakers detained on bribery charges had been granted bail.

On December 28, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) had said the three Meshrano Jirga members had been detained red-handed accepting $40,000 in bribe.

Although the intelligence service did not name the detainees, a source named them as Mohammad Azim Quyash, Mohammad Anwar Bashliq, and Liaqatullah Babakarkhel.

AGO spokesman Jamshid Rassouli told Pajhwok Afghan News on Sunday the senators were freed on producing personal guarantees after the Senate opposed their detention under the law.

He said that the AGO had shared the issue regarding detention of the senators with the upper house in line with Article 102 of the Constitution.

But members of the upper house took exception to the decision and demanded the early release of the detainees.

The MPs were released based on the AGO law and on personal guarantees from the trio. The case against them was still under scrutiny, Rassouli said.

Last week, a Presidential Palace official had said upper house membership of two of the senators had been cancelled.

Meshrano Jirga Secretary Muqtadir Naser also confirmed that the senators were freed on bail.

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 prosecution requires detention, the responsible official shall immediately inform the respective House and obtain its approval.”

The article provides if the accusation happened during a recess, permission for arrest or detention should be obtained from the administrative board of the house, and the issue shall be referred to the first session for a decision.

mds/mud