A study, which has assessed the activities of former lawmakers of the Wolesi Jirga -- Afghanistan’s Lower House of Parliament in a 10-month period, shows that during this time, 73 out of 95 plenary sessions were held with no quorum and overall 61 percent of the 249 MPs were absent in daily meetings of the house.

Conducted by Women and Peace Studies Organization, the study reveals the Wolesi Jirga was also grappling with some other challenges such as ethnic issues as well as lack of credible and authentic evidence for impeaching or summoning high-ranking government officials – usually ministers.

The study says that there were “secret deals” between lawmakers and officials during impeachment or summoning proceedings.

The study adds that lawmakers had lacked the ability to properly monitor government activities.

“Low capacity for monitoring and making deals are main challenges for some lawmakers and also there is a lack of unity of action against the executive body which exists in the parliament,” said Enayatullah Osmani, Chairman of Women and Peace Studies Organization. 

A former MP, Saleh Mohammad Saljoqi, meanwhile, claimed that in the 16th round of the legislative year, half of the lawmakers were deliberately preventing the legislation process. 

He said that at least 23 percent of the legislators were uneducated, 13 percent were making the Jihadi figures and 11 to 14 percent others owned major businesses and were creating obstacles on the way of legislation.

“Unfortunately, 50 of the lawmakers which make 23 percent of members of the parliament were totally uneducated, 13 percent of them were influential Jihadi leaders and elders from the Jihad era who did not have an interest in the legislation, but 11 to 14 percent were owners of big companies who were opposing approval of the laws and legislation,” said Saljoqi. 

The remarks come as the Afghan government is reportedly preparing for the inauguration of the new parliament in the near future.