Noticias

Pro-reform MPs and members of election monitoring groups on Wednesday claimed that certain elements within the government and the Independent Election Commission (IEC) plotted to disrupt the approval of President Ashraf Ghani's legislative decree on election reforms.

The statements come two days after parliament failed to vote on a crucial presidential legislative decree on election reforms in the wake of continued calls both by the Afghan people and the international community.

MPs in the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Monday rejected President Ashraf Ghani's legislative decree on electoral reforms.

Only 27 MPs voted in favor of the decree.

"This is our authority to amend any law. We should try to shoulder our responsibility properly," said MP Hafiz Mansour.

A number of MPs said the reason behind rejecting the decree was the interference from a number of circles inside government and from a number of lawmakers as they do it for their own benefit.

The Election Reform Commission (ERC) and election monitoring groups on Saturday slammed the National Unity Government for its continued reluctance to implement the reform process in the election law.

They said that no body or individual is allowed to justify continued obstructions in the way of the reform process.

Amid concerns over a delay in parliamentary polls, the Presidential Palace on Tuesday said elections will be held on time.

"Government is committed to bringing reforms in elections and it will try to hold the parliamentary elections at its scheduled time," said President Ashraf Ghani's deputy spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi.

Meanwhile, some senators and political electoral watchdog officials said they were concerned over a delay in holding parliamentary elections in the country.

The Meshrano Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) in its plenary session on Tuesday called on government to send the presidential decree on electoral reforms to parliament.

A number of senators alleged that the government is not interested in bringing about electoral reforms.

They said that it has been almost a month since the decree was issued but it has not been sent to parliament so far.

Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) said on Wednesday government has failed to bring about electoral reforms.

"The National Unity Government (NUG) failed to bring about electoral reforms last year," said Ahmad Yusuf Rashid, Chief Executive Director of FEFA. He hoped that the government will not fail again this year.

The foundation urged leaders of the NUG to put aside their differences and work for electoral reforms.

The organization urged government to keep their political affiliations separate from the election council's selection committee.

KABU (Pajhwok): The Afghanistan Civil 

KABUL (Pajhwok): The presidential decree on electoral reform would be published soon in the Ministry of Justice’s website and the government gazette and a tree-pillar meeting would be conducted to resolve women’s problems, a presidential spokesman

KABUL (Pajhwok): Election watchdogs have expressed their concern over the delay in releasing a second presidential decree on reforming the country’s electoral regime.
Reliable government sources say President Ashraf Ghani is expected to issue his second decree on electoral reforms before the Wolesi