KABUL (SW): As eligible voters across the country prepare to register for the forthcoming elections, the glitches surrounding the identity cards continue to emerge.
In conversation with Salam Watandar, Ruhullah Ahmadzai, spokesman for the Directorate of Population Census, informed there are cases of an individual possessing multiple, even up to 10 identity cards. He said some citizens get identity cards in Kabul, but when they return to their provinces they get another one there as well.
As per the estimates of the Directorate of Population Census, up to 20 million citizens have the identity cards, which is an incorrect estimate. Ahmadzai stressed the only way to bring reforms and transparency is to roll out the proposed biometric identity cards.
Mohaiuddin Mehdi, member of the Wolesi Jirga (lower house), pronounced the duplication of identity cards as a serious issue. He said it multiplies chances of rigging in elections.
Wasima Badghesi, an Independent Election Commission (IEC) commissioner, said in this regard that the voters are being registered manually, and a solution should be devised for the issue of multiple identiy card holders. She said the Directorate of Population Census has not shared this issue with the IEC.
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