A number of residents of Ghazni province on Thursday started a sit-in protest against the Independent Election Commission (IEC) which led the commission to close its doors. 

The demonstrators started a sit-in protest calling for government to make the electoral districts smaller. 

The residents also said the IEC should not stamp their original IDs because of security issues. 

“We do not want a stamp on our IDs,” Khalil Hotak, a protester said. 

“We should also have representatives in parliament,” Sayed Obaidullah Hashemi, another protester said. 

“In the areas that Hazara people live there are more election stations compared to other places and that is why the people have protested,” Ahmad Bilal Wajid, another resident said. 

IEC officials meanwhile said although they have informed the protesters that their demands have been shared with the relevant departments, they have not ended their sit-in protest and the IEC office has remained closed. 

IEC commissioner Sayed Hafizullah Hashemi said if the IEC office remains closed, a big challenge will be created in the election process in the province.

“We have shared the issue with the Independent Directorate of Local Governance and security departments. This problem should be resolved and if it continues, it will turn to a big challenge which might start in other provinces as well,” Hashimi said. 

A number of Ghazni MPs in parliament meanwhile said it is impossible to make the electoral districts smaller at this time. They said government should somehow resolve this problem. 

“Ghazni is a province and part of Afghanistan and this problem is manageable and should be resolved soon. It is impossible to hold elections in Ghazni differently from other areas,” MP Abdul Qayyum Sajjadi said. 

Reports indicate that since the beginning of the voter registration process, 3,375 voters have registered their names in Ghazni province.