April 5th turned a historic day for Afghans that granted them with the chance to elect their political leader. Out of estimated 30 million Afghan populations, nearly 7million population exercised their democratic right to vote. The election resulted in large number of voter turnout that earned fame for the war torn country and wide appreciation from across the world. Millions of politically motivated Afghans thronged at thousands of polling centers across the country to cast their ballot in the country’s third presidential elections, worth praising. According to Afghanistan Independent Election Commission (IEC) fifty percent plus out of 13 million eligible voters, including 35% women, franchised, despite alarming security challenges.
The masses already pressed hard by insecurity and economical crisis have aligned their anticipations to fair and transparent election that has to do away their grievances. Subsequent to finalization of voting, during counting session, any ill-intend to produce a forged result might take off the trust instilled to democratic setup. Similar reservations are put forth by election observers. Presidential and provincial council election observers asked IEC to act neutrally and responsibly during the vote-count process on Thursday.
The election certainly ended with large voter turnout amidst negligible report of violence. However it could not evade fraudulence and irregularities. Previously the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) unearthed 11,000 incidents of fraud, irregularities, militant threats and closure of polling stations during elections. According to reports of the watchdog 9,500 cases of electoral fraud, including 2,600 of a serious nature were reported. According to FEFA 141 ballot boxes had been stuffed in favor of a particular candidate and 997 cases were related to underage voting, 323 cases were about militant threats to polling stations and 437 incidents about the closure of election sites owing to insecurity.
Amongst the other issues of great concerns were the use of female voter cards by males at 507 polling sites in different areas and poor quality ineffaceable ink was used. There were 209 cases of poor quality election ink. These are electoral irregularities of genuine type. In many polling stations observers were barred from monitoring the voting process at some polling centers. According to FEFA report 297 observers were not allowed to monitor the election process and 2,305 polling sites were opened late and 1,727 sites remained open beyond the official closing time.
The large number of irregularities reported is deliberate violation of electoral laws. The IEC must exercise high degree of perseverance and integrity, compiling advertent and agreeable results. It is only feasible the reported cases of fraud and irregularities are given prior attention.
Subsequent to conduction of successful election the Independent Election Commission is left with a gigantic undertaking to complete one of the world’s most difficult counting processes amidst serious fraud allegations. Afghans foreseeing broader change are now anxiously waiting the result announcement. The IEC reportedly has received about 3,000 complaints about poll fraud and a probe is under way. Lots of care must be exercised to do away with all ambiguities pertaining to making discretions whilst dealing with electoral irregularities. Particularly by making fair trail feasible the trust installed on IEC must be maintained.
According to IEC schedule, April 24 is set the date for announcement of preliminary results while the final results will be made public on May 14 after the formal settlement of all complaints. According to media sources two presidential hopefuls Dr. Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah claim to be leading the race from the votes counted so far. Seeing none of the contestants could scores 50% plus votes, it is likely the two leading contenders Ghani and Abdullah go for second round run-off.
However, escalating security threat hardens the conduction of second round election, amongst leading contenders challenging if not restraining. Booming security concerns is suggestive of avoiding run-off for second time. Reportedly Kabul, US and its allies do not favor a second round and thinking of a possible rapprochement between the top two candidates for a coalition. Nevertheless, the two contenders favor re-polls instead of forming coalition. According to credible media sources the outgoing president too wants a coalition, to get eased with enormous tasks of re-poll.
The election has to do something with repealing, the disgruntled fates of Afghans. Primarily making superficial distinction between one and the other contender might not distant harms or nears riches but their policies and strategies will. It can be assessed by conduction of independent surveys; the ordinary Afghan needs are quiet realistic than presumptive. Afghans are in the pursuit of charismatic leader who could get the country out of countless challenges and socio-economic crisis and could put it on the refreshed avenues of long-lasting progress and matchless achievements.
Afghanistan is convening economical declination, social degeneration and political chaos. The outgoing President is leaving behind the legacy of male-administration, ill-political priorities, disproportional balance and battered relation with the world and neighboring countries. The political and socio-economic problems barring Afghanistan’s collective progress, could be gotten rid of, given the charisma of the forthcoming elected political leader work.
There are many malicious practices; one being the irreversibly growing favoritism and nepotism that undermines merit and aptitude. According to credible media sources ethnic basis served primary factor behind inspiration that attracted voters than policies and national priorities each candidate promulgated. The demographic study of Afghanistan depicts that ethnic divide till date is deeply rooted; the rulers mostly pursuing self created motives turned a blind eye to the concerns of the rest of population of Afghanistan that strengthened the sense of, wretchedness and haplessness. Consequently a sense of deep deprivation garnered that can be done away with exercising national and goal oriented politics. The war torn country is in dire need of cohesive policies that could bind the diverse faction of society. The politics of segregation must be put an end to, instead centripetal endeavors should be carried forth with great appreciation.
Subsequent to installation of democratic setup a change was witnessed, likely a shift was expected in political undertakings from ethno-centric to issue centric. Regretfully with more or less intensity politics based on nepotism and favoritism is practiced indicative of distracted priorities. In the election the things of worth seeing was ethnically motivated ballot that has little to avert our fates.