KABUL - Some Wolesi Jirga (lower house) members on Wednesday expressed concern over the attachment of a sticker to paper identity cards of those registering to vote.
The lawmakers were of the view that the sticker attachment had slowed down the voter registration process as so far 76,000 individuals have registered their names.
The voter’s registration process has been underway based on the paper IDs and a registered individual gets a sticker on his/her ID card as a sign of registration.
The Independent Election Commission (IEC) launched the voter’s registration on April 14 ahead of Oct 30 Wolesi Jirga and district council elections.
FawziaKufi, a lawmaker from northeastern Badakhshan province, told today’s session that the lack of public awareness and the attachment of sticker on paper ID cards was negatively impacting the ongoing voter registration process.
She said the Taliban had threatened common people in some districts against registration as voters.
“No one would agree to the attachment of a sticker on their ID cards because the Taliban may harm them, thus the process of registration has been slow going,” she added.
ShukriaPaikan, another lawmaker from northern Kunduz province, expressed similar views and said: “Taliban militants have warned the people of Kunduz against registering to vote.”
Lawmaker Abdul Hai Akhundzada from southern Helmand province said: “Taliban cut off people’s fingers in past elections but this time they have warned people of execution if vote in the upcoming Wolesi Jirga and district council.”
Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said efforts should be made to spread awareness about the importance of elections.
He urged IEC officials to switch to another method instead of attaching stickers on paper ID cards in insecure areas.
Earlier, a number of Meshrano Jirga members had expressed their concern over the same issue and had urged revisiting the idea. (Pajhwok)