President Ashraf Ghani held separate meetings with former president Hamid Karzai, former jihadi leaders and other influential figures to discuss elections, the peace process and a ceasefire, the Presidential Palace said.
Some political figures made recommendations on national processes during the meetings.
The First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum, former president Hamid Karzai, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Sebghatullah Mujaddidi, Mohammad Yunus Qanuni, Atta Mohammad Noor, Mohammad Moqaqiq, Engineer Mohammad Khan, Guldbuddin Hekmatyar, Mohammad Karim Khalili, Sayed Hamid Gailani and other political figures were among those who visited the president.
“The purpose of the meetings is to consult on elections, peace and ceasefire because they need a political consensus and they are national issues,” Ghani’s spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said.
The Council for Protection and Stability in Afghanistan said Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, a former jihadi leader and head of the council, has asked the president to create special principles and regulations in the ceasefire with the Taliban.
“At his meeting (with Ghani), Ustad Sayyaf stressed the need for a ceasefire with rules and regulations in order to not to affect the people. Meanwhile, we stressed the need for a transparent and just election,” said Massoud Trishtwal, a spokesman for the council.
Hizb-e-Islami said that Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hizb-e-Islami, has stressed the need for the implementation of political parties’ draft plan on elections.
Use of a biometric system and a change in the electoral system are the main demands of the political parties which have been rejected by government and the Independent Election Commission.
“Mr. Hekmatyar stressed the need for the implementation of the political parties scheme and on election transparency and use of a biometric system. He said that the election system should change,” said Humayun Jarir, a member of the leadership council of Hizb-e-Islami.
The political committee of political parties said a draft plan for bringing more transparency to elections is their top priority.
“Any option which can prevent fraud in elections is on the table of political parties,” said Noor Rahman Akhlaqi, a member of the committee.
The Presidential Palace said no one can impact the process for their own interests.
“The individuals who talk on behalf of people, should realize that the people have a strong will to participate in elections,” Chakhansuri said.
This comes as the political parties’ coalition, called the Grand National Coalition of Afghanistan, the Council for Protection and Stability in Afghanistan and Hamid Karzai are discussing elections and peace and will announce the results of their talks on Thursday.