DUSHANBE, December 4, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Shukurjon Zuhurov, Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), today received Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, Speaker of the Lower House (the House of the People or Wolesi Jirga) of the Afghan Parliament.

Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, says the two discussed issues related to expansion of cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries.

Zuhurov reportedly briefed Afghan parliament speaker on the structure and activities of Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament. 

Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, for his part, noted that learning experience of Tajik parliament is very valuable for Afghanistan’s parliament.

Afghan parliament speaker also appreciated Tajikistan’s support for establishment of peace and accord in Afghanistan, Sultonov said.    

Born in the Imam Sahib district of northern Kunduz province in 1962, Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi is ethnic Uzbek.  He finished high school in 1979 before entering the Languages & Literature Faculty of Kabul University.  But he joined the jihad when the former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Following mujahidin’s victory, he was appointed as Sher Khan Dry Port director in 1993.  Subsequently, he was appointed the commander of 3rd southern border police zone.  After the collapse of the Taliban regime, he served as the commander of border police in 2002 before being elected as Emergency Loya Jirga member the same year.  Ibrahimi was elected as Wolesi Jirga member from Kunduz in 2005.  He won a parliamentary seat for the second time in 2010 when was elected as speaker of the Wolesi Jirga.