KABUL (SW): A number of political parties and some civil society activists have criticized the Independent Election Commission’s past activities, and said they do not believe the IEC could hold a transparent election in future as well.
At a meeting with members of civil society and political parties today (Wednesday) in Kabul, the officials from the IEC said they are ready to hold a transparent election for the House of Representatives (Wolesi Jirga) and the district councils.
The officials of the political parties and members of civil society organizations though criticized the IEC’s past activities, saying that the IEC should change its legal and technological functions in order to provide a transparent election campaign. They emphasized that the election should be held at a specific time and the citizens should be granted access to the ballot boxes.
“How do we believe that the IEC will hold parliamentary and district council elections on 7th July (16 Saratan), the IEC wants to start the registration process on 4th April, and how they could handle the two concurrent elections is doubtful, and why the IEC doesn’t announce the exact date of the election?”, said Sadiq Patman, a member of the New Afghan National Front.
Rafiullah Beidar, the IEC Commissioner said that so far, more than 60 strategic plans have been received from the two political parties and several civil society organizations in regards with the rights and legal matters by the IEC. The IEC will respond to the plans of the political parties and civil society organizations, however, there should be coordination among the political parties and civil society organizations in order to agree on a specific strategy, and the IEC is ready to hold the elections by incorporating some changes, he added.
Meetings between the political parties, civil society organizations, and the IEC have also been held in the past; however, citizens still do not have faith in the IEC.
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