KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani has approved in a decree seven proposals of the Special Electoral Reforms Commission (ERC) that were submitted to his office last week.

In a press statement issued by the president, he praised the performance of the Special Electoral Reforms Commission in the decree, and fully approved the proposals of the first phase of the work of the ERC on reforms in the short term.

The president also tasked the Ministry of Justice and the Office of Administrative Affairs to take immediate measures to provide the legal grounds for the implementation of the seven proposals by the ERC, read the statement.

Ghani also asked the ERC to further research the legal, technical, implementation and practical aspects of the other proposals and to present a detailed plan to the Office of the Chief Executive and to the Office of the President.

He also called on the commission to complete its remaining tasks.

The Independent Election Commission is tasked in the decree to prepare the schedule to hold elections for the (Wolesi Jirga) Lower House of Parliament and District Councils in a way to ensure that the proposals of the Special Electoral Reforms Commission are implemented.

The head of the ERC, Shah Sultan Akifi, last Sunday briefed the Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on the first draft of the electoral reform commission's recommendations – which proposes a range of changes to the country's electoral system in order to hold transparent and fraud-free elections.

At the time Akifi said the commission has considered the country's law and its national interests in preparing the draft document and that national unity is and has been a priority for them in their work.

The draft document included 11 recommendations. Ghani has approved seven – but did not stipulate which ones. (Tolonews)