The 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections have turned into a dilemma seeing numerous problems Afghan government faces at present. Moreover, after decades of war and instability, a peaceful transition of power in 2014 could portend a more hopeful future for Afghanistan. Many believe this election is a way out of Afghanistan’s current political chaos.
The democratic setup installed in 2004 in Afghanistan reaches to completion of its second term subsequent to Taliban’s despotic regime which was toppled in 2002. The two complete terms could not relieve Afghan anguish; nevertheless a tremendous exercise of democracy is worth observation. Now the country moves towards preparatory phase for following year’s presidential and provincial election. The deadline for candidates’ registration ended the previous Sunday, succeeding to continuation for three weeks.
According to Independent Election Commission’s (IEC) statement, 27 individuals had filed nomination papers for presidential slot and 2,360 people including 273 women had registered their names for provincial election. Now the (IEC) has to go with scrutiny of nomination papers being filed. The preliminary list of ECC-approved candidates is expected to be announced by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) on October 19.
The ECC's evaluation process will involve in-depth examination of candidate's registration materials as well as their backgrounds. ECC has warned candidates that any links with insurgent groups would automatically disqualify them from running in the elections. The same would go for criminal records. This is determined and noticeable move, provided the rule of business is kept intact and the said laws are abided by.
According to set rules any violation of the Election Laws would be forwarded to judicial bodies for investigation and mediation. Therefore the role of judiciary stand significant if all such complains registered against electoral irregularities, are addressed fair-mindedly.
Campaigning for the elections is scheduled to start on February 2 and continue until March 31. The roughly two-month campaigning period is shorter than in past years, as mandated by the new Election Laws passed in July. The ECC has warned candidates to refrain from campaigning early, as it would be considered as a violation and could lead to their disqualification from running in the elections.
The conduction of free, fair and transparent election renders a great challenge to Karzai government given the past experiences records mass rigging and fraudulent. A credible and universally agreeable election if the government succeeds to conduct will strengthen democracy in Afghanistan; otherwise it emboldens the antagonistic forces.
The directives issued by President Hamid Karzai formerly to government officials not to interfere in Independent Election Commission’s (IEC) affairs and maintain impartiality in the poll process is appreciable but render useless unless stern measures are taken to restrict them to mind their own business during electoral process; letting it be fairer and more transparent.