A number of MPs in the Wolesi Jirga, Lower House of Parliament, claimed that the first deputy speaker of the house, Humayun Humayun, and Lalai Hamidzai, an MP from Kandahar, forced their way into the National Archives recently and removed a number of documents.

“They entered the compound of the National Assembly and then forcibly entered the National Archive at 11pm at night,” said Gulpacha Majidi, an MP. 

“You are the first deputy speaker of this house and you should not talk about power and force,” said Obaidullah Barikzai, an MP from Helmand.
The two MPs confirmed they went to the Wolesi Jirga’s TV compound, at the national archives, but rejected claims they had bullied their way in or paid bribes to officials on duty in order to be let in. 

“The police at the compound were with us and when they opened the door, they said that the antenna was not working. No money was given and no force was used,” Humayun said. 

“I am not scared of anyone. I will break your mouth if you talk against the national interests,” said Lalai Hamidzai.

Wednesday’s session of the house ended in a stalemate after a verbal altercation broke out among MPs. 

“This is against the principles of this house and against the ethics when you (some MPs) are getting physical and are not responding to my calls to stay calm,” the Wolesi Jirga Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said.

Other MPs meanwhile claimed that a number of their colleagues are involved in creating a rift in parliament.

This comes after a report emerged on alleged corruption committed by the speaker and the secretariat of the Wolesi Jirga last month; since then numerous sessions have ended in verbal clashes between lawmakers.