Afghan Parliament Makeup Mixed

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, June 18, 2002

Afghan Parliament Makeup Mixed

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Afghanistan's new legislature will be a mix of geographic and population representation, drawing delegates from each province and others chosen from among delegates of the loya jirga, the council's chairman announced Tuesday.

Ismail Qasim Yar also said 15 seats of the new parliament would be given to women.

The decision represents an apparent compromise and attempt to make sure that ethnic groups, especially the majority Pashtuns, feel they are represented in the legislative branch of Afghanistan's transitional government.

Choosing the legislature, which the loya jirga identified as one of its chief tasks, stalled during the weekend over disputes about what form it would take.

Some delegates said they wanted a legislature composed of two representatives per province and other seats allotted to interest groups. Others had advocated drawing representatives from within the loya jirga itself one representative for every 10 of the more than 1,600 loya jirga delegates.

The makeup announced Tuesday mixes those notions. Qasim Yar said it would consist of two delegates for each of Afghanistan's 32 provinces, 15 seats for women and other seats chosen from within the loya jirga one for every 20 delegates.

Another proposal, heavily advocated by Pashtuns, would have drawn one legislative representative from each of the country's 381 districts. That wasn't incorporated into the blueprint announced by Qasim Yar.

The session was adjourned minutes after his announcement because of the ensuing uproar.

And during the weekend, Karzai addressed them and said it was something they needed to accomplish.

The six-month transitional administration, which is drawing to its end this week, has no legislative body.

Also unresolved is an executive Cabinet. Karzai was expected to announce his choices for key ministries later Tuesday.

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