Hindus, Sikhs get Afghan parliament seat: President Hamid Karzai

Kabul: Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has issued a legislative decree that gives minority Hindus and Sikhs a seat in the country's next parliamentarian election.

A statement Wednesday from the presidency said the seat would be in the parliament's lower house. The addition would make the parliament now have 250 seats.

Karzai's decision comes after lawmakers declined to require a special seat for Hindus and Sikhs in the law. Under Afghan law, the president has the power to issue legislative decrees when the parliament is on vacation.