Our reporter Hamidullah Habibi asks the citizens of Kabul what they think of the new crop of MPs and what they expect from the incoming legislature.


Abdul Qadir, 38, resident of Istalif district, Kabul Province

“Parliamentarians must be honest and highly educated, so that they can make laws in the interests of poor people, to provide job opportunities for the unemployed. Parliamentarians should think of building factories where the unemployed people can get jobs.”

Feraydoon, 20, student of psychology at Kabul University

“I expect the next Parliament to be better than the current one. In the first Parliament, the majority of MPs were not educated. I hope this time educated people win more seats. If we have such parliamentarians, they’ll serve the people, and will pass laws based on our traditions and culture. In addition, the next Parliament must provide a vote of confidence for the proposed cabinet members. They must select educated and qualified ministers so that they can efficiently do their jobs and make Afghanistan better.”

Abdul Saboor Rafi, 20, student of economics at Kabul University

“The next Parliament must realize what its main function is and not waste time. Afghanistan is very backward in the field of education because most of its citizens are illiterate, therefore, MPs should make laws to raise the level of peoples’ education. My other hope is that the next Parliament learns from the mistakes of the first one. For example, it must correct the deficiencies of the first Parliament regarding tribal issues, domestic problems, etc.”

Gul Rahman, resident of Chehlsetoon area of Kabul City

“Seats in the Parliament should go to those who will really serve the people. They should be familiar with the sufferings of the people. The first parliamentarians promised to create job opportunities for the unemployed and said they would pave the roads, but their promises turned out to be all lies.”

Khanawar, resident of Surobi district of Kabul Province

“The next parliament must stop irregularities and illegalities in government offices. It must stop officials who harass poor and defenseless people. It must put an end to the bribery and betrayal in the government. It must pressure the state to build dams, streams, and water channels, so that on the one hand, people find jobs and on the other hand, we get rid of bribery, corruption and theft in the government.

Mohammad Rahim, 55, shoe polisher in Kabul City

“I was involved in the Jihad and fought [against the Soviets and communist regime] for 20 years; but neither the first Parliament nor Karzai did anything for me. I was a shoe polisher 10 years ago and I am still doing the same job. MPs in the first Parliament thought only about their own interests and did nothing for the poor. I expect nothing from the next Parliament.”

Qayum, Kabul Citizen

“How can those who perpetrated fraud in the parliamentary elections serve the people? What did the first Parliament do? Did it cure any of the people’s wounds?”

Bidar, 45, Kabul Citizen

“The first parliament did nothing, so only those who had power and money won seats in the second Parliament. In fact, the parliamentary elections were not fair and transparent; therefore we cannot expect the people who won the seats through power and money to do anything for us.”