Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

President Ghani Vows Timely, Transparent Elections

President Ghani Vows Timely, Transparent Elections

KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani, denouncing recent attacks on voter registration sites, on Monday pledged the timely conduct of Wolesi Jirga, district council and presidential polls.
The president held out the pledge while addressing the 5th Afghan Women International Symposium here. The assurance comes days after deadly attacks in Kabul and Khost provinces.
Referring to recent attacks in Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar, and Khost provinces, the president said armed militants had no positive idea for the future of Afghanistan and if they had any, they must come forward.
Ghani added the recent blasts carried aimed to scuttle the election process were not against a single tribe or community. Pajhwok reports show 1,018 people were killed and 792 others injured in 173 attacks in April.
Ghani promised election would be held on schedule. In mid-May 2019, he said, all of government figures would cease work.
Article 61 of the constitution says: “The president shall be elected by receiving more than 50 percent of votes cast through free, general, secret and direct voting.
“The presidential term shall expire on the 1st of Jawza of the fifth year after elections. Elections for new president shall be held within thirty to sixty days prior to the end of the presidential term.
“If in the first round none of the candidates gets more than fifty percent of votes, elections for the second round shall be held within two weeks from the date election results are proclaimed.
“In this round, only two candidates who have received the highest number of votes shall participate. In case one of the candidates dies during the first or second round or after elections, but prior to the declaration of results, re-election shall be held according to provisions of the law.”
The national unity government (NUG) was installed as a result of an agreement between President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah after months of a deadlock.
Some experts believed future presidential elections may be delayed.
Low turnout at registration centres
The president said until last week 24 percent of women were registered as voters, a low percentage. Earlier, the Independent Election Commission had announced documenting 1.4 million voters.
The process of voter registration kicked off on April 14. “Your presence in this symposium is a clear response to terrorist attacks. Women of this country are discussing peace and stability and are cooperating and coordinating in this way.”
He hoped the Afghan women would not go back to the times of oppression, poverty and backwardness. The women were present and their presence was durable, he concluded. (Pajhwok)
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