Manawi highlights challenges ahead of presidential vote (Video)

KABUL (PAN): The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Wednesday said next presidential and provincial council elections would be held as scheduled in line with the Afghan constitution, despite problems and challenges. Addressing a consultative meeting with political leaders in Kabul, IEC head Fazal Ahmad Manawi said there were many hurdles in the way of the presidential ballot, but the problems could be overcome with people’s cooperation. “IEC will do its bit to ensure transparency, which doesn’t mean the elimination of all problems,” he said, adding the issues they had to contend with during the last elections remained unresolved. He feared the problems could increase. He identified the lack of data, such as the exact number of voters, and insecurity as some of the major challenges to the credibility of the 2014 presidential election. "If we don’t discuss and resolve these issues today, security measures alone will not help make the polls a success,'' he observed, recalling insecurity had been a major problem during the last presidential vote. Hinting that the poll panel would not be able to hold fair elections due to insecurity, Manawi said the presidential ballot would take place in line with the constitution and there was no need for any change in the timetable. Article 61 of the constitution says: "The presidential term expires on May 21 on completion of the fifth year after the elections. Elections for a new president should be held within 30-60 days before the end of the presidential term." The meeting involving representatives of various political parties was the first of its kind. Afghanistan National Coalition (ANC) head Dr. Abdullah Abdullah said political parties should be consulted before new IEC nominees were introduced to the Wolesi Jirga. Denouncing the previous presidential poll as a vote marred by fraud, the former foreign minister said political forces were concerned that the next election could face similar threats. He added identity cards helped little in preventing fraud, and the government should have addressed the problem a decade ago. Speaking on the occasion, Hezb-i-Wahdat head, Mohammad Mohaqqiq, stressed the need for preserving IEC independence. Impartial individuals be given the vote of confidence as IEC members by the lower house. Speaking on behalf of Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, the leader of his own fiction of the Hezb-i-Islami, Eng. Mohammad Khan asked the IEC to invalidate previous voter cards and distribute new ones. He believed the next presidential poll would be useless if new voter cards and identity cards were not issued. PAJHWOK/Ataullah Khpelwak