Jamiat-e-Islami, Hizb-e-Islami led by Abdulhadi Arghandiwal, the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, also known as Junbish-e-Milli, and five other political parties have called for an amendment to the election law, arguing that past elections failed to win the public’s trust.

The parties asked government to pave the way for a greater role of political parties and movements in the upcoming parliamentary and district council elections – following an amendment to the election law.

The other five parties were Mehwar-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan, Hizb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami, Hizb-e-Wahdat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan, Afghan Millat Party and Hezb-e-Iqtedar-e-Milli Islami Afghanistan (Afghanistan Islamic National Authority Party.

The parties and movements have consulted and discussed the mater for two weeks and have concluded that there should be an amendment brought to the election law.

Major points according to the parties are improving political parties’ role in parliamentary elections and keeping the 34 provinces as 34 constituencies.

“Political parties and movements must be given a role,” Noor Rahman Akhlaqi, member of Jamiat-e-Islami Party said.

The parties have also asked that the details of the presence of parties and international electoral observers in the electoral process should be mentioned in the law.

“Amendment to every law will make it better and it is good for every law ,” said Aimal Ebad, political affairs analyst.

Amid the suggestions, the head of the Independent Election Commission Gulajan Abdulbadi Sayyad said people will vote by using paper identity cards in the next elections.

“A number of Afghans, especially those living in villages and women in particular who have not received identity cards should get the (paper) identity cards. We have been told at least 10 million (paper) identity cards will be distributed,” he said.

This comes after Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar this week called for highlighting the role of political parties in parliamentary elections.