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‘Interference’ Affecting IEC Provincial Appointments

The Independent Election Commission has started appointing provincial commissioners as it inches closer to the deadline for parliamentary and district council elections, but sources from the electoral body say some government institutions and MPs are interfering in the process.  

The IEC has already announced 14 positions for the heads of provincial offices, which are being run by acting chiefs, sources said.

The provinces include Kabul, Logar, Wardak, Baghlan, Sar-e-Pul, Jawzjan, Faryab, Herat, Kapisa, Panjshir, Zabul, Nimroz, Khost and Kunar.

Referring to these claims, the IEC operational deputy chairperson, Wasima Badghisi said they are facing some challenges in terms of bringing reforms to the commission.

“There are some issues that have slowed down the reforms process (in the election commission),” Badghisi told TOLOnews. 

The incumbent officials have been running the IEC provincial offices for the past 10 years, according to sources. In addition some IECemployees in provincial offices are employed in their home province, which is in contravention of the election law.

“There are people in top government positions in provinces who interfere in the election commission’s affairs and are trying to appoint their own people as officials for the IEC in provinces,” Naeem Ayubzada, head of Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan, said. 

“A legitimate election is needed in Afghanistan to remove past misunderstandings and to put an end to the serious interference in the process,” Aziz Rafiee, head of Afghan Civil Society Forum, said. “People should believe that elections are their right to determine their fate.” 

‘Interference’ Affecting IEC Provincial Appointments

Sources say a number of government institutions and lawmakers are interfering in the appointment of IEC provincial chiefs. 

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The Independent Election Commission has started appointing provincial commissioners as it inches closer to the deadline for parliamentary and district council elections, but sources from the electoral body say some government institutions and MPs are interfering in the process.  

The IEC has already announced 14 positions for the heads of provincial offices, which are being run by acting chiefs, sources said.

The provinces include Kabul, Logar, Wardak, Baghlan, Sar-e-Pul, Jawzjan, Faryab, Herat, Kapisa, Panjshir, Zabul, Nimroz, Khost and Kunar.

Referring to these claims, the IEC operational deputy chairperson, Wasima Badghisi said they are facing some challenges in terms of bringing reforms to the commission.

“There are some issues that have slowed down the reforms process (in the election commission),” Badghisi told TOLOnews. 

The incumbent officials have been running the IEC provincial offices for the past 10 years, according to sources. In addition some IECemployees in provincial offices are employed in their home province, which is in contravention of the election law.

“There are people in top government positions in provinces who interfere in the election commission’s affairs and are trying to appoint their own people as officials for the IEC in provinces,” Naeem Ayubzada, head of Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan, said. 

“A legitimate election is needed in Afghanistan to remove past misunderstandings and to put an end to the serious interference in the process,” Aziz Rafiee, head of Afghan Civil Society Forum, said. “People should believe that elections are their right to determine their fate.” 

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