KABUL - In a letter to Presidential Candidate, Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and his First Vice President, General Abdul Rashid Dostum, the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) has issued them a warning about starting the campaign process before the designated period begins. The ECC told the candidates that their recent statements could be considered a type of campaigning. The letter said that if Ashraf Ghani's ticket continues to campaign before the official campaigning period that begins the first week in February, the candidates would be fined and could face further legal repercussions.

In a meeting earlier this week, Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai invited other Presidential candidates to debate, and General Dostum remarked that had he chosen to team up with rival candidate Abdullah Abdullah it would have divided the country. "Today, the Commission decided to send Dr. Ashraf Ghani and General Abdul Rashid Dostum a warning to stop their early election campaigning, " ECC spokesman Muhammad Nader Mohseni said. "We will strictly act in accordance with the law if candidates or their vice presidents act prior to the campaign period," Mohseni added. "The candidates and their vice presidents must take the election laws into consideration." Ashraf Ghani's campaign declined to comment on the matter. (Tolo News)