Election Watchdogs, Political Parties Blast Govt For Not Bringing Reforms

Fuente: 
ToloNews
Fecha de publicación: 
17 Abr 2016

Election watchdog organizations and political parties on Sunday said that government has failed to bring about electoral reforms.

They said this was unacceptable.

According to them, the continuation of war and insecurity should not deter government from bringing electoral reforms.

They said that playing games with the issue of electoral reforms is playing games with the fate of the people of Afghanistan.

The watchdog organizations and political parties organized the gathering under the title of "joint working group of civil society and political parties for bringing about electoral reforms and holding parliamentary and district councils' elections".

"The government's failure in bringing about electoral reforms is unacceptable. This failure means failure of Afghanistan and democracy. The government should stop deceiving people in bringing about electoral reforms," said Naeem Ayubzada, head of the Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA).

"Standing against electoral reforms mean standing against progress, a demand of people, and it is not justifiable," said Sediqullah Tawhidi, the deputy head of special electoral reforms commission.

Participants meanwhile at the gathering suggested an electronic voting system for the upcoming parliamentary and district council elections.

"Just electronic National Identity Cards (e-NIC) cannot bring [about] the electronic voting system. We have recommended a plan that if we utilize electronic technology in the voting process, it will prevent poll rigging and will accelerate voting and vote counting processes," Ayubzada said.

"This system can be utilized in voting, vote counting and announcement of results to at least prevent ghost polling centers and the filling of ballot boxes," said Jandad Spinghar, director of Election Watchdog Afghanistan (EWA).

Representatives of political parties stressed that parliamentary and district council elections should be held in its scheduled timeframe.

"Reforms should be immediately brought to the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and new people should be appointed as chairman, deputy chairman and commissioners of the IEC. These new people should be unbiased and honest," said Fatana Gailani, head of Afghan Women's Network.

"We want immediate reforms to be brought and the government should be prepared to hold the election in its set time, between summer and autumn this year," said Abas Noyan, a member of Right and Justice Party.

In response to these criticisms, the deputy spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, Dawakhan Menapal, said: "The government continues its efforts seriously to bring about electoral reforms and there is a will for reforms in leadership of the government. We expect the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) to approve the presidential decree on electoral reforms soon."

The group also stressed that the election commission's selection committee should immediately start its work.