The election commissioners Selection Committee on Thursday submitted its working report to President Ashraf Ghani in which the committee introduced three candidates shortlisted for the post of head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), a press release issued by the Presidential Palace states.
The candidates introduced to the president are Sayed Hafizullah Hashemi, Awal-ul-Rahman Rodwal and Abdul Qader Zazai Watamdost.
A meeting took place regarding the issue this evening in the ARG (presidential palace); Jawed Rashid, head of the selection committee, talked about the working procedure of the committee and said that the selection committee completed its work in the presence of representatives of UNAMA, the media and members of civil society institutions with full transparency and freedom, the statement read.
“He also thanked government for not attempting to meddle in the process and helped it complete the job in accordance with the prevailing laws of the country and existent rules and regulations,” the press release stated.
“The selection committee after officially starting its job on 7 Jaddi (28 December) distributed 88 application forms to applicants of which 57 candidates submitted their documents to the secretariat of the selection committee for the post of the election commissioner,” the press release quoted Rashid as saying.
According to Rashid, 27 candidates were immediately dropped from the list of 57 on the basis of article 12 and paragraph 16 of the election law. The documents of another 30 candidates were reassessed and of these, another 13 candidates were also dropped and 17 candidates were included for further assessment. Of these, nine candidates were found eligible for a written test and interview.
From the nine candidates, three of them were shortlisted due to their high marks which were Sayed Hafizullah Hashemi, Awal-ul-Rahman Rodwal and Abdul Qader Zazai Watamdost.
“President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, after hearing the report back of the selection committee, thanked the committee members for their hard work they paid to the national process and voiced appreciation for their truthfulness and transparency in order to complete the process in line with the laws of the country,” the statement said.
“The leadership of the national unity government will soon interview the three candidates in line with their commitment to the Afghan nation and will issue the decision about the appointment of one member of the Independent Election Commission as soon as possible,” the press release concluded - quoting Ghani.
The meeting was also attended by Ghani’s second Vice President Mohammad Sarwar Danish.
Danish also hailed the job of the selection commitment and their commitment to the national process.
Qadir Zazai is an incumbent MP in parliament, Sayed Hashemi the incumbent secretary general of the Meshrano Jirga and Awal Rahman Rodwal was head of the IEC’s Kabul office.