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

IEC Drafts Law to Prevent Foreign Entities from Supporting Candidates

IEC Drafts Law to Prevent Foreign Entities from Supporting Candidates

KABUL - Sarir Ahmad Barmak, the Commissioner of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), on Monday warned the electoral candidates saying that the Commission will out rightly reject candidacy if it finds that any candidate is being supported by foreign entities. The warning from the IEC came in after it prepared a draft law tilted- "Financial Planning of Candidates."

According to the draft, no electoral candidate is allowed to receive money or seek any kind of support from non-Afghan sources for the electoral campaigns. The IEC, however, clarified that the candidates can receive funding or support only from a citizen of the country (Afghan). The law also states that a candidate is allowed to spend 10 million Afghanis on electoral campaigns and the source(s) of the money must be told to the Commission.

"Only Afghans can financially support a candidate. It means that foreigners cannot help the Presidential candidates in any way. If they receive money from foreign sources, it will be an electoral violation. The IEC will forward the case to Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC), if it receives any complaint and cancel the candidacy," said Mr. Barmak.

Additionally, several Afghan lawyers said that if any candidate tries to contest the elections with the support of foreign elements, it is a "betrayal to the nation" and such people must be punished. The lawyers added that majority of the politicians are still being supported by the foreign sources.

The announcement was made by the IEC after several members of the recently announced coalition- "Afghanistan Electoral Alliance" (AEA) accused each other of having links with foreign entities on numerous social media platforms.

"Those who participate in the electoral process with the support of foreigners are criminals and enemies of the nation. They should be prosecuted," said Faizullah Jalal, Kabul University lecturer.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) has assured that if it receives any complaint along with concrete evidence, it will take legal action against those candidates.

"After receiving any evidence, we will start investigating the matter and also send them to the intelligence agencies. And, if the evidence is true we will take legal action," said Nader Mohseni, spokesman of the ECC.

Presidential and Provincial Councils' candidates have until October 6 to submit their names and meet the considerable requirements set for the upcoming elections. The IEC has urged all the candidates to submit their documents on time or face rejection.

The election is set for April 5, but with the candidate registration period coming to an end, preparations are in high gear. News about who is going to contest the elections will likely be breaking over the course of the next couple of weeks. (Tolo News)