Afghan parliament gives amnesty to 'jehadi' commanders

Kabul, Feb 21 (UNI) The Upper House of Afghanistan's Parliament has passed the draft law giving amnesty to all the 'jehadi' commanders involved in the conflict of the last twenty-five years.

The decision came three weeks after the bill was passed by the lower house and provides for immunity from prosecution for any act committed during the conflict.

The decision of the Lower House of Parliament takes the bill one step forward in the process of legislation and ignores the criticism leveled by the human rights organisations, the international community as well as public anger.

The bill will now go to the President who has already indicated that he will seek legal opinion on the bill to see whether it is violative of the Afghan Constitution.

If the bill is vetoed by the President, it can either go to the Supreme Court or back to the Lower House which has the right to overrule the presidential veto with a two thirds majority.

International community as well as human rights groups have emphasised that justice cannot be sacrificed for the sole principle of reconciliation.

UNI