In third world countries, fraud is considered a common part of elections. Expecting fraud-free elections in Afghanistan – which is one of the mostcorrupt countries of the world and where 90% of world’s opium is produced and insurgents have significant influence – is nothing but naivety. But frauds will only be acceptable when it is up to a certain limit that does not question the legitimacy of whole electoral process. One can easily imagine how massive a fraud would be if plotted, managed, organized and implemented by a high-ranking official of a county’s election commission. This seems to have happened in Afghanistan on 14 June – the day run-off election was held in the country.
The Afghan government, election commissions and judicial bodies are taking the case of Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhail so easy that one assumes they have already accepted the election despite availability of valid evidences against him. Had an official – with vital duties like that of Amarkhail - been found involved in electoral frauds in other countries of the world, he would definitely be behind the bars by now. But in Afghanistan not only the IEC authorities but also the government is backing him although the people through peaceful demonstrations have demanded his prosecution.
Unwillingness of electoral bodies in taking instances of fraud as serious has created a political deadlock in the country which can further deteriorate the political situation if issues are not properly and duly addressed by international community and the UN.
On Sunday, Abdullah Abdullah’s campaign said the IEC has negatively responded to their 13 demands and therefore, they will have no relations with the commission and any decision it takes will not be legitimate and acceptable. At times when the IEC is expected to announce preliminary results of run-off election soon, one of the major demands of Abdullah is re-election in certain provinces where election has been rigged massively and the turnout is more than the number of registered voters.
Bringing the situation to normality highly depends on the willingness of the government and election commissions. Those who are involved in electoral frauds must be put on trial immediately. Re-election can be considered as one of the options in areas where evidences suggest massive rigging has taken place. All electoral complaints must be dealt with transparency and impartiality and all invalid votes must be quarantined.