As the year of presidential election 2014 approaches, the concerns of political parties, international community, civil society organizations and media bodies, regarding the necessary arrangements made to conduct free and fair election feasible, escalate. Formerly, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Head of Transition Process said that the government, political parties and civil bodies should adopt necessary measures for holding transparent and fair elections.
It is worth mentioning that though a period of less than a year remains for upcoming election, the election law still awaits approval. The leader of National Coalition is constantly criticizing the delay being caused in the election law implementation.
Amidst massive stagnant cloud of despondency currently prevailing in our beloved country the 2014 poll, if transparent and legitimate, will turn a ray of hope for democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, ahead. The transparent poll requires pre-condition of universal issuance of computerized identity cards, timely up-gradation of old voter lists and appointments of impartial polling staff of high integrity, held under UN and international observers’ oversight. The old ID cards and registration lists, having enormous number of ghost voters, will ease fraud and rigging; as the former complicates the recognition of genuine voters and the later discourages ghost voters, imparting unfair influence on the results.
Holding a free and fair election remains a query yet to respond and a great challenge for the incumbent government. Many international donors, including US, have laid down conditions to aid Afghanistan, linked to conduction of legitimate election. Afghanistan’s weakening economy highly dependable on foreign aids might undergo threatening budget deficit and economical degeneration if foreign aid is disbanded.
A smooth transfer of power through free, fair and transparent elections must be ensured to avoid any crisis in post 2014 poll. The recurrence of identical issues of fraudulence might not only cause a deadlock but also an endless political turmoil and bring the system at stand still. Such a crisis could derail the entire process and we could thrust into political instability and internal havoc much more seriously and threateningly than 2009.
A smooth transfer of power through free, fair and transparent elections must be ensured to avoid any crisis in 2014. Similar issues of fraud had caused a deadlock in 2009. Repeat of that experience will not pass smoothly next time. It will take the system down. Such a crisis could derail the entire process and we could plunge into political instability much more seriously and threateningly than 2009.