KABUL (SW) – The Independent Election Commission on Sunday reiterated the resolve to hold forthcoming parliamentary elections on time.
This comes amid closure of its offices in a number of provinces by the Grand National Alliance of parties on charge of alleged ‘pre-poll rigging’.
Gulajan Abdul Badi Sayad, chairman IEC, told a presser that the GNA plans to close down the commission’s offices in more provinces as well. He charged the political parties, the government and electoral institutions for not helping the IEC hold fair and timely elections.
The IEC chairman said the government should control the outlawed forces, and ensure reopening of the commission’s offices.
In this regard, the Ministry of Interior Affairs has stressed closure of the IEC offices by the GNA is illegal and it harms public order. Gen. Akhtar Mohammad Ibrahimi, deputy minister for the MoIA, has directed corresponding police officers to swiftly ensure reopening of the closed offices.
Meanwhile, the IEC has issued final list of candidates for the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) from Sar-e-Pul, Zabul, Panjshir and Farah provinces. Waseema Badghesi, deputy chairman of the IEC, said today the Independent Election Complaint Commission would respond to the candidates’ objection related to these four provinces for three days.
The IEC has also sought the help of NATO forces in shipment of sensitive electoral material to provinces. The electoral commission is set to announce the final list of voters in 10 provinces on Monday.
ENDS
