KABUL (SW) – Article 61 of the Constitution states the presidential term shall expire on 1st of Jawza of the fifth year after elections, and elections for the new President shall be held within 30 to 60 days prior to the end of the presidential term.
Based on Supreme Court’s ruling on this, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has continued with his term even after 1st of Jawza (22 May). However, a number of presidential candidates dub it as illegal and violation of the Constitution.
Mohammad Waizi, spokesman for one such presidential candidate, Mohammad Haneef Atmar, told Salam Watandar the council of presidential candidates would stage protest demonstrations across the country against this move. He said the extension of President Ghani’s term is violation of the Constitution and would plunge the country into crisis.
Analyst Ghulam Faroq Sikandari lamented the continuation of presidential term beyond 01 of Jawza has evolved into a culture of violation of Constitution. He said this has widened the trust deficit between the government and citizens. He said the Article 61 is clear and needs no clarification from any institution. He feared continuation of such a situation would never allow true democratic values to spread roots in Afghanistan.
In 2009, the Supreme Court issued similar clarification that the then president Hamid Karzai and his deputies can continue to serve until fresh polls are held.
Shah Hussain Murtazawi, deputy spokesman for the President, told SW what the political opponents are saying has no legal grounds. He said based on the Constitution and electoral laws, the President would remain at this position until fresh polls are held.
ENDS
