KABUL (SW) – An Independent Election Commission official has criticized the dearth of proper public awareness campaign for the voter registration drive.
Mawlana Mohammad Abdullah has said in a social media post that the voter registration drive without the public awareness campaign is like ‘prayers without ablution’.
A number of election watchdogs have also criticized the IEC for not having an action plan in place for the forthcoming presidential polls.
Yosuf Rashed, head of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan, told Salam Watandar that the IEC is faced with a number of issues that have hindered the execution of a proper public awareness campaign.
Naeem Ayubzada, head of the Transparent and Fair Election Association, said on this matter that the IEC is faced with lack of capacity, experience and poor management.
When contacted, former chief election commissioner, Gula Jan Abdul Badi Sayad, said this might be due to lack or delay in delivery of budget by the government and the international backers.
SW wished to have the views of the IEC, but to no avail.
The renewed voter registration drive began earlier this week for one month.
ENDS
