KABUL - Officials of the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) on Sunday said that the delayed presentation of updated election security reports from security officials could create problems for the elections process.
The IEC requested to have a comprehensive security assessment of polling sites around the country presented by today, Sunday. Afghan security officials on Saturday indicated there could be a possible delay in the release of the report.
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that the security report would be forwarded on to the IEC in the coming week.
"There are no major concerns and challenges," Sediqi assured. "We hope that in a week all of the details will be ready and we will share them with the Independent Election Commission."
Reports on the security situation of polling centers in the southern, western and northern regions of Afghanistan were said to have been completed. However, assessments of threats in the central and eastern parts of the country remain unfinished, according to officials.
IEC Commissioner Sarir Ahmad Barmak said that the delay would have a negative impact on the election process. IEC officials said the security report was essential to their preparations ahead of the April vote. Without knowledge of the current security conditions at polling sites around the country, the IEC cannot move forward with the distribution of ballots.
Spokesman for the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) Mohammad Fahim Naeemi criticized security organizations for the delay.
"The delay in sending the security report could possibly delay election work that would create problems," Naeemi said. "We hope that the security forces and the Minister of Interior will try hard to send the security report on the poll centers as soon as possible."
The spring Presidential and Provincial Council elections have been the dominating subject in both public and official discourse over the past year. The elections are seen as pivotal for Afghanistan, coming the same year as the NATO coalition withdraw and marking potentially the first democratic transition of Presidential power in Afghan history.
One of the key issues the IEC and election advocate organizations have highlighted heading into the April vote is security, and how it could affect turnout and transparency.
The IEC referred a list of at least 7,000 polling stations to security officials roughly 14 months ago. Based on earlier assessments, security officials reported back that overall 259 of the centers were facing serious security threats. (Tolo News)