The grand opposition alliance of all parties including some from the ruling coalition have urged President Karzai to sign the draft legislation on structure and powers of the Independent Election Commission into law without any delay. They accused the President for intentionally prolonging the delay so that an administrative decree could be issued for the coming Presidential elections.

According to the opposition parties, President Karzai wants to send the draft law to the Supreme Court for legal advice and interpretation. The Chief Justice and several other judges of the Court are serving on interim basis for two years now. It would be unconstitutional that such an important legislation be reviewed by a controversial office holder.

There have been concerns about the delay-tactic for months. With each passing day, it becomes clearer that such a tactic is aimed at influencing the results of upcoming Presidential elections. First they made attempts to postpone the polls, but the huge domestic pressure and calls from the international community has made it inevitable to conduct elections on time. However, still the administration is blamed to have all state-resources and channels to not only influence the elections on polling day and through the count of ballots, but an organized pre-rigging campaign has been launched with the delay-tactic as a tool to influence the process through administrative ways.

The artificial deadlock on the draft law of structure and organization of the Independent Election Commission and Electoral Complaints Commission, as well as the insistence on usage of old voter registration cards are all part of the campaign.

Opposition sources claim President Karzai wants one of his loyalists to be appointed as IEC Chief.  A meeting was held in the Palace in this regard a couple of weeks ago. The opposition made a decision to boycott the meeting which made its credibility zero, forcing the decision in pending. The names making rounds include Presidential Chief of Staff Karim Khuram and National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta, both of whom are nearest to Karzai. Their appointment would mean hijacked fraud elections with crisis and chaos to follow.

The plans to influence poll results of presidential elections have been underway for over a year now. The government must know it cannot get away with such moves without taking the country into deep crisis for which sole responsibility will go to the President.