GARDEZ - The Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FFEFA) head for southeastern Paktia province has been accused of having campaigned in favor of the Stability and Partnership election ticket in the province.
FFEFA is a non-profit and neutral organization which works for free and just election, enforcing democracy, encouraging people to participate in election and building public trust in political processes in the country.
However, Jannat Khan Mangal, head of the State Builder election ticket led by Ashraf Ghani, said that Ehsanullah Hamidi, FFEFA head for Paktia province, participated in an electioneering event for Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, a presidential candidate, and spoke in his support.
He said such activities from a FFEFA official were in violation of the electoral law and other laws.
“We know Ehsanullah Hamidi who has been FFEFA member for the last few years. He was a FFEFA representative in the parliamentary election but he directly supported Dr. Abdullah Abdullah by attending his campaign event and delivered a speech in his support,” he said.
Meanwhile, a civil society activist in Paktia, Abdul Raouf Sabit, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Ehsanullah Hamidi also held a job in the provincial education department besides being member of FFEFA.
Based on the electoral law, no government official has the right to participate in election campaigns, but Hamidi did so, he said.
“Hamidi is a campaigner of Abdullah’s team in addition to leading FFEFA,” he said.
Naqibullah Haidari, Independent Election Commission (IEC) head for Paktia said that FFEFA should be neutral about elections and should honestly watch over the polls.
“It is a crime when an organization such as FFEFA campaigns for a specific person, because this organization should be impartial,” he said.
On the other hand, Mumtaz Karkhel, a provincial council member of Paktia, said that FFEFA did not look neutral in the province.
He also said FFEFA head for the province had campaigned in favor of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.
FFEFA head for Paktia, Ehsanullah Hamidi, confirmed a picture of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah with Paktia youth seen at Abdullah’s house as real.
However, he said election campaigns had not started when the picture was taken and his aim to appear in the gathering was not to support someone.
“I was not even aware about the agenda of the gathering, I came to the stage and told the audience that we want a transparent election so we do not face any crisis, I did not support any candidate,” he said.
Hamidi said some figures attempted to rig the election in Paktia and that was the reason such accusations were made against him. (Pajhwok)