The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) on Monday announced that within one week the election management body will start taking applications from candidates wanting to apply for the IEC secretariat chief position.

The IEC spokesman Maazullah Dawlati said the commission will also finalize the list of candidates for the position of IEC provincial chiefs.

Appointing new chairmen for IEC provincial headquarters are among the core components of reforms in the election system.

“Other issues related to the implementation of reforms around provincial offices are also underway,” said Dawlati.

But, critics say that the Presidential Palace is not serious about bringing reforms to the election commission and about holding transparent elections.

“Until now we do not have a secretariat, the nation does not have confidence in this commission, the government is not serious about holding elections,” said former presidential advisor Ahmadullah Alizai.

“We hope that the independent election commission appoints the head of its secretariat soon,” said senator Asif Sediqqi.

Another senator Safiullah Hashimi said: “From a structural perspective, the independent election commission has a lot of short comings and there are serious disagreements about this.”

Presently the IEC secretariat and several other IEC provincial offices are run by caretakers.

Lawmakers in parliament however have argued that political meddling in the process has prevented the commission from carrying out its responsibilities with transparency and credibility.