President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday said there is no sovereignty of the law in the country and stressed the need for equal treatment under the law for all citizens of the country.
He said that one of the main factors hindering the establishment of peace in the country is the non-existence of legal sovereignty and the absence of powerful and transparent courts.
"One of the reasons blocking our way to peace is that no one believes they will have rights as an individual citizen if they lay down their guns. We can be law-abiding citizens and dispense with other choices when we get to trust out legal and judicial system," said Ghani.
Meanwhile, Afghan chief justice Yousuf Halim confirmed that corruption exists in the country's judicial system and said that the illegal practice takes root when the law is not implemented and acted upon.
"We have undertaken all-out efforts to eliminate corruption. As part of our campaign against corruption, our oversight and control department has arrested some judges, employees, registrars, agents, attorneys, defense lawyers and ordinary individuals," said Halim.
"We have a lawful culture, but the sovereignty of law is quite weak. The lawful culture is improved when the head of supreme court can tell the president that this part of your job is illegal. This is called sovereignty of law. The law is not sovereign when officials consider themselves above the law and everyone thinks they can violate the law with the power of a gun," Ghani added.
After assuming office as president, Ghani pledged to bring about systematic reforms in the nation's legal and judicial system, however critics argue that the government has failed to act in the two years since.
Ghani said that within four years, the people will celebrate the sovereignty of law.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/5658
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