A debate in the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) over a recent controversial land deal between government and Alokozay Group of Companies exposed predictable divisions among lawmakers on Tuesday when chairman of parliament’s Transport and Telecommunication Commission slammed the accord as violation of the prevailing laws of the country and urged the contract’s termination.

“The accord must be cancelled, because the land has been sold out in penny. There are businessmen who are ready to pay $300,000 USD for each jerib of the land (contracted with Alokozay),” said Fatima Aziz, an MP and member of commission.

“Based on the procurement law, whenever someone wants to seal a contract, he needs to offer a bank guarantee and bank statement for it, but in this contract, there is no written commitment,” said another member of the team, Masuma Khawari.

However, Nazir Ahmad Ahmadzai, the second deputy speaker of the Wolesi Jirga, who also leads the commission, opposed termination of the deal and instead called for further investigation into the matter.

“In the first step, you (MPs) do not have the right to ask members of the (transportation and telecommunication) commission and the task team members to issue their ruling as soon as possible. I will assess your documents; may you made a mistake and I have the authority to asses it,” said Ahmadzai.

“If someone believes that we committed any kind of violation or treason in our assessments, or exploited the issue ethnically, we are ready to go to the court and respond,” said Qais Hassan, head of Wolesi Jirga’s Transport and Telecommunication Commission.

This new development takes place two months after the Wolesi Jirga tasked the parliament’s Transport and Telecommunication Commission to assess the land deal between government and the Alokozay Group of Companies.

Reports indicate that government has sold out at least 28.8 acres of land which is the asset of Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority to Alokozay Group of Companies with a low price.

But, the findings of parliamentary commission indicates that the deal was made in clear violation of the Afghan Constitution and land laws, and in the absence of a proper bidding process.

Based on the findings of the Wolesi Jirga commission, Alokozay Group of Companies has ‘sieged’ 41.2 acres of land instead of 28.8 acres contracted with government.