Hizb-e-Islami leadership members on Tuesday said in Kabul if parliamentary and presidential elections are not held on time, the legitimacy of government will be questioned. 

Hizb-e-Islami member Amin Karim said government’s interference in electoral commissions affairs should stop and that a general council should be formed between political parties and influential figures to oversee the election process. 

“Government must focus on reforming the election mechanism instead of changing figures and appointing new officials,” said Karim.

Karim also blasted government over delays in the election process and said circles inside government are trying to interfere in election commission affairs and to postpone the upcoming elections. 

According to Karim, government has not paid money to election commissions to proceed with the election process. 

“If government does not pay the election budget, then we should criticize the institution that is the main provider of the costs. Whether internal or foreign institutions,” Karim added. 

Government meanwhile rejected claims of interfering in the election process and said they are trying to hold the elections as scheduled. 

“Government has the motivation to hold elections on time and transparently and will do all it can to hold the election,” the president’s deputy spokesman Shahhussain Murtazavi said.

The finance ministry also said they are waiting for a final budget request from the election commission and said they are ready to provide the money they need. 

“We are waiting for the election commission’s financial proposal and their final request,” finance ministry spokesman Ajmal Abdul Rahimzai said.

With the recent disputes among election commission commissioners, the commission came under serious criticism and a number of political parties accused government of interfering in the election commission’s affairs.