Afghan leaders call for national unity and peace on constitution anniversary

Afghanistan's President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Thursday called for further public awareness of the constitution and its implementation as the country was observing the anniversary of its constitution.

"Implementing the rule of law and institutionalizing of the laws in accordance with the mother law (constitution) is one of the main objectives of the National Unity Government. The Constitution contains the fundamental rules of the nation and it must be adhered," Ghani told a ceremony marking the 13th anniversary of the Afghan Constitution.

Ghani asked the government leadership to further upgrade the rule of law, and play their part in promoting and implementing the constitution.

The Afghan leader said that it is a share responsibility for all Afghans to upgrade the public awareness of the laws so that people are aware of and abide by the nation's laws.

"Showing respect for the constitution is indeed showing respect for national unity as well as national and human values," he said.

Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, at the same event, urged the Taliban militants and other armed anti-government opponents to accept the Afghan constitution and renounce the violence.

"The negotiation door is open. I call on all armed opponents to begin with accepting the constitution and join the national peace and reconciliation process," Abdullah said.

The current Afghan constitution was approved in early January 2004 by the Loya Jirga or Afghan grand assembly.

It consists of 162 articles and was officially signed by former Afghan President Hamid Karzai on January 26, 2004 when he was serving as the chairman of Afghan Transitional Government. Enditem