Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Protesting Candidates Close IECC Office in Kabul

Protesting  Candidates Close  IECC Office in Kabul

KABUL -   A number of Wolesi Jirga election candidates on Saturday closed down gates of the Independent Election Complaints Commission (IECC)’s office in Kabul over removal of their names from the final election result list.
Around 100 candidates and their supporters from Kunar, Badakhshan and Sar-i-Pul provinces protested in front of the complaints commission after names of some candidates were removed from the Independent Election Commission (IEC)’s final list of winning candidates.
The protesting candidates warned of launching a series of demonstrations and closing the electoral commissions’ offices in Kabul and in provinces if their demands were not accepted.
Asadullah Aryubi, a protesting candidate from northern Sar-i-Pul province, said: “I won 7, 944 votes and achieved second position in the initial list but without any evidence and document, they invalidated my 3, 248 votes in the final list.”
He urged the government to appoint an impartial delegation in this regard because their votes had been edited.
Ahmad Yaftali, another protesting candidate from northeastern Badakhshan province, said: “We three candidates were winners in the initial result but due financial and political corruption, names of few persons were removed in the final list at night around 8:30pm against all electoral producers.”
He accused the IEC of striking ‘nighttime deals’ with candidates and said they would continue to demand answers.
Saleh Mohammad, a former Wolesi Jirga member and a protesting candidate from eastern Kunar province, said: “The IECC dispatched its final decision to the IEC which violating the election law announced the final result by accepting money and changing names of candidates.”
He warned they would not allow those buying the parliament seats to enter the house and urged the IECC to answer their questions.
A number of other protesting candidates expressed similar views and urged the government to resolve their issue at the earliest possible.
Meanwhile, Najibullah Kabuli, leader of Musharakat-i-Milli party told a press conference in Kabul that the October 20 and 21 Wolesi Jirga election were full of challenges and urged the protesting candidates to accept the final result and end their demonstrations. (Pajhwok)