The Chief Executive’s Office on Saturday said the newly vacated post of chairman of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) will be filled in accordance with a decree issued by President Ashraf Ghani.

The post came vacant late this week after Najibullah Ahmadzai was fired.

The president has been criticized in recent weeks for selecting incompetent IEC commissioners. However, critics see this as an opportunity for Ghani to now appoint a capable and qualified replacement.

“The president’s decree is clear that the responsible institution should work and take steps to appoint a new commissioner,” Jawed Faisal, the CEO’s deputy spokesman said. 

Based on the law, the president should select someone from the list that was sent to him by the selection committee at the time of Ahmadzai’s appointment. However, it appears that Ghani’s decree to replace Ahmadzai indicates that a candidate not on the previous list should be appointed.

“When a member of the commission is dismissed for any reason, the president should select someone from the (original) list that he received from the selection committee,” Yusuf Rasheed, a member of the committee said. 

Following the dismissal of the IEC chief, the president stated in the decree that the election bodies need to introduce nominees for thenow vacant IEC post. 

The disruption within the IEC has been slammed by MPs who said the next appointment must be someone who is qualified and capable to lead the election body.

“If the scheduled elections are not held, then it is possible that there could be a public uprising,” MP Zakaria Zakaria said. 

“Is the election commission under the authority of the president? That he plays with it like a child’s toy,” asked MP Zahir Qadir.

Sources have said government will call for applications for the position within a week. They said potential candidates will write an exam and based on their results will be selected by the Presidential Palace. The sources said the selection committee will be bypassed in the appointment.