Meshrano Jirga

Meshrano Jirga
source
Name	Meshrano Jirga
Native name	مشرانوجرګه
Transcription name	House of Elders
Legislature	National Assembly of Afghanistan
House type	Upper house
Body	Parliament of Afghanistan
Foundation	1931 (original), 2004 (under the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan)
Preceded by	Loya Jirga
Succeeded by	Dissolved (2021)
Leader1 type	Chairman
Leader1	Fazl Hadi Muslimyar (last)
Seats	102 (at dissolution)
Meeting place	Kabul
Session alt	The Afghan Parliament building in Kabul

Meshrano Jirga. The Meshrano Jirga was the upper house of the National Assembly of Afghanistan during the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, functioning from 2004 until the collapse of the republic in August 2021. Established by the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan, it was designed as a chamber of elders to provide stability, represent provincial interests, and review legislation passed by the more populous lower house. Its creation was a key component of the post-2001 political order brokered by the international community, notably the United Nations and the United States.

History

The concept of a house of elders has deep roots in Pashtunwali and traditional Afghan governance, with its modern institutional predecessor being the advisory body established under King Mohammed Nadir Shah in 1931. The contemporary Meshrano Jirga was formally inaugurated following the ratification of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan, which was drafted by the Constitutional Loya Jirga and signed by President Hamid Karzai. It operated throughout the tenure of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, witnessing the presidencies of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, and was a central forum during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). The chamber ceased to function following the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021, which dissolved the republic's institutions.

Composition and election

The Meshrano Jirga comprised 102 members, with a mixture of appointed and indirectly elected representatives serving staggered terms. One-third of its members were appointed by the President of Afghanistan, another third were elected by provincial council members within each province, and the final third were elected by district council members from each province; however, district council elections were never held, so these seats remained vacant. Members served five-year terms, with half of the provincial and presidential appointees being renewed every 30 months. Seats were allocated to ensure representation for Kuchi nomads and were constitutionally mandated to include a minimum of two female representatives from each province.

Powers and functions

Constitutionally, the Meshrano Jirga held significant powers, including the approval or rejection of legislation sent from the Wolesi Jirga, the ratification of international treaties, and the approval of key presidential appointments such as Supreme Court justices and members of the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan. It also had the authority to summon ministers for questioning and to form special investigative commissions. Alongside the Wolesi Jirga, it formed a joint session known as the Loya Jirga for extraordinary constitutional matters, such as amending the constitution or declaring war.

Role in the legislative process

In the legislative process, bills originated in the Wolesi Jirga and were then presented to the Meshrano Jirga for review. The upper house could approve, amend, or reject legislation; if it rejected a bill, it was returned to the Wolesi Jirga with proposed amendments. A rejection could be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in the lower house. This system was intended to foster careful deliberation and compromise, though political gridlock between the houses was common, particularly on contentious issues like the electoral law and national budgets.

Relationship with the Wolesi Jirga

The relationship between the two chambers was often characterized by rivalry and institutional tension, reflecting broader political fractures within the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The directly elected Wolesi Jirga frequently viewed the appointed and indirectly elected Meshrano Jirga as a conservative body aligned with the presidential palace. Prominent conflicts arose over legislative authority, oversight of the Ministry of Finance, and investigations into allegations of corruption within the Kabul Bank. Despite these tensions, both houses occasionally united in opposition to executive decrees issued by Presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani.

Notable members and leadership

The last chairman of the Meshrano Jirga was Fazl Hadi Muslimyar, a former member of the Islamic Party of Afghanistan from Nangarhar Province. Other notable chairmen included Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, the first interim President after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, and Hashem Hashemzada. Distinguished members included former Mujahideen commander and Vice President Karim Khalili, prominent women's rights advocate Habiba Sarabi from Bamiyan Province, and representatives from various ethnic groups including Abdul Latif Pedram, a Tajik intellectual, and Mohammad Asif Muhsini, a Hazara cleric.