KABUL (SW) – Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the Hezb-e-Islami chief and presidential candidate, said on Sunday delay in announcement of the presidential polls’ prelimary results is not acceptable.
Addressing a press conference at his party headquarters, he said ‘circles’ within the election commission and outside are hindering announcement of the results. He stressed those not accepting the polls’ results should brace for reactions from the people and the Mujahedeen.
The Hezb-e-Islami chief said some candidates are striving to delay the announcement of results in order to change the outcome in their favor. Without naming a particular electoral team, Hekmatyar said one candidate has spent up to $ 180 million on election campaign. He claimed a hefty amount of $ 4 million has been spent by this candidate on a single event.
He vowed to defend the peoples’ vote and not allow election process to be rigged. Hekmatyar demanded that in case of a second round, an interim set-up should be established.
A day earlier, the Independent Election Commission cited technical glitches as the reasons behind delay in announcement of the results due on Oct. 19. Hava Alam Nuristani, the IEC chief, sought apology from the public in this regard.
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