IEC not fully prepare to conduct presidential polls: Alkozai

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential Candidate Ibrahim Alkozai on Wednesday claimed that the Independent Election Commission (IEC) is not prepared to hold upcoming presidential elections, but the election body rejected the criticism.

He expressed the view while addressing a campaign gathering in Kabul. The much waited presidential elections is scheduled to happen on September 28.

Alkozai said in the presence of insecurity free and fair election was not possible, asking for an opportunity to be provided for transparent ballots nation-wide.

He said the IEC was not ready for election and the polls should be postponed until opportunity for fair elections is provided so that the people of Afghanistan participate in the process and chose the leader of their choice.

Election body:

Zabihullah Saadat, acting spokesman of the IEC, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the IEC was fully prepared for the conduct of presidential elections.

He said necessary materials had been dispatched to 26 provinces and other provinces would be covered at the end of this week.

“Presidential candidates who have lack of trust over the ability of IEC for organising elections should pay attention to their campaign and strive for getting vote from the people,” he said.

Saadat added election candidates should share their plans and programmes with the people and if they don’t have future plans, they should not forge negative propaganda to mislead public minds and create hurdle for the national process.

Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA):

TEFA Head Mohammad Naeem Ayubzada said that IEC was 60 percent ready for elections and cautioned that there were some technical issues still existed.

He said support of some candidates by some IEC staff and lack of strict administration was some of the issues which worried election watchdogs.

“I agree with Alkozai 40 percent that IEC is not fully prepared for holding presidential elections,” he said.

Last year, the international community supported IEC through monitoring and financially but this year that support is not available due to some problems.

He warned election transparency would be questioned if the IEC did not take steps for resolving technical issues in the centre and provinces.

Outcome of reality check:

Pajhwok Afghan News investigates reality under a new framework that include correct, wrong, half correct, half incorrect, some correct and some incorrect categories. This story falls under “Some correct category”.

Ahmad Sohib Hasrat

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