Leader of an important opposition alliance National Coalition, Younas Qanooni has once again said there are elements around President Karzai who are plotting to create a situation of crisis and postpone the elections for a year. Talking at a gathering in Kabul, he said Karzai must reject the opportunist suggestions for the continuity of the current government rule by delaying the polls.
He added that a group in the Palace was strongly pushing for the agenda. While these elements are also suggesting convening of a Loya Jirga to extend Karzai’s rule for one more year pretending the violence in some areas as a reason for election insecurity. He mentioned that these elements are also looking to plot a rigging plan, if the polls are held.
It is second time in few weeks that a leader of the key opposition coalition is expressing serious concerns about elections and plots to hijack it. He said that President Karzai was looking to bring a loyalist to head the Independent Election Commission. Its current Chief Fazal Ahmad Manawi will retire next week. No candidate has been nominated yet.
Meanwhile, another leader of the coalition and President Karzai’s former rival in 2009 elections Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has expressed doubt if the President will leave office without giving it a tough fight. Despite President Karzai’s repeated promise to leave office when his tenure finishes early next year, key opposition leaders have been expressing concerns about the elections.
The cries are not without a reason. So far with less than one year left to the Presidential elections scheduled for April 2014, the Government has done very little in preparations. The electoral law has yet to be approved from the parliament. Voter registration process is not started yet.
The electronic ID card project is delayed without clear reasons. It seems intentional delay-tactic is at play to create the atmosphere for the above-mentioned concerns of Qanooni.
While talking to AP, Abdullah said, “President Karzai will make an effort to extend his tenure. His best option is to create an emergency security situation so everyone says ‘under these circumstances how can we have elections?’, then he calls a jirga to support him staying on. He doesn’t show any signs of being someone who is now leaving in one year’s time.”
They fear that a crisis is being intentionally put into making before the elections. The government and the international community should make sure that the coming elections are made as much transparent as possible so that Afghanistan should have a better future.