Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, April 26th, 2024

Karzai Implements Personal Demands in Election: Parties

Karzai Implements Personal Demands in Election: Parties

KABUL - The Afghan political parties on Wednesday accused President Karzai of implementing his own demands in election through new changes on the law of governing Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC).

The political parties, coalitions and representatives, in reaction to last changes in the law governing IEC and ECC, warned that the independence of Electoral Complaints Commission will be lost, adding that new changes are infeasible.

It comes as, recently, the Office of Administrative Affairs and Secretariat of the Council of Ministers sent the law of governing IEC and ECC with new changes to the ministry of parliamentary affairs in order to be approved for a second time.

The law which is sent to President Karzai for signing was approved by Parliament two weeks ago. But Karzai did not sign it and brought some new changes in the law.

"The President does not believe in holding elections with such actions, so in this case the lawmakers should be more careful." The head of the National Coalition Party Abdullah Abdullah said.

"The political parties should put more pressure on the government that its demands should not be implemented because the transparency of election goes under question," a member of Rights and Justice Party Moeen Marastyal said.

According to the new changes, the foundation of selecting committee for members of IEC and foundation of ECC are called against Constitution by the Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice and the independent commission for supervision of the implementation of constitution.

It is said that the Supreme Court should take the responsibilities of electoral complaints commission EEC.

Meanwhile, a number of MPs also expressed concern over new changes in the law.

"If the President believed in the independence of Electoral Complaints Commission, he would sign the law but the president does not believe so," MP Fatima Aziz said.

The Independent Election Commission accepted that law has some problems.

"The law has its own problem and it is not impractical," the IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said.

The IEC said that the holding of the upcoming presidential election will be challenging if the approval of this law is delayed further.

The presidential election of Afghanistan planned to be held on 5th April 2014, is believed to the most prominent event in the country's near future, with many inside and outside the country watching what will happen, an election that will make Afghans' future fate. (Tolo News)