Election Delay Will Be Catastrophic: Political Parties

A newly established coalition of Afghanistan's political parties released a document on Sunday warning that any delay in the presidential election in 2014 will cause an "unaffordable crisis".

The Cooperation Council of Political Parties and Coalitions, comprised of around 20 political parties, insisted upon election reforms to secure a maximum turnout of voters and build confidence in the election process.

"The elections should take place on time," Hamidullah Farooqi, a member of the leadership council of Right and Justice Party said in a news conference after the Sunday event.

"If the Afghan government or anyone else wants to bring a change or delays the election time, they are ignoring the catastrophic consequences it may cause."

It was the first such gathering of the political parties in the country. The council was formed three months ago and has formulated the document Charter of Democracy.

The council includes key parties such as Abdullah Abdullah's National Coalition, the National Front and the Junbish-e Milli of Afghanistan party.

The Charter focuses not only on elections, but stresses the "non-negotiable democratic values" such as women's rights and human rights. The council also calls for a unified peace approach and fighting against corruption, among other things.

They also called for a stronger role of the political parties in the government.