The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has proposed a delay in parliamentary elections in Ghazni province due to “security issues and other problems”.

“Due to serious security situation and other problems in Ghazni province, it is possible that the elections will not be a just and general representation of all the province. Therefore, the issue of delay in Wolesi Jirga (Parliamentary) elections in this province shall be proposed to the constituted committee under Part 1 of Article 104 of the Election Law,” a letter signed by members of the commission reads.

Article 104 of the Election Law says:

“If security issues, incidents and natural disaster or situations like them, which will make impossible the principle of general and just representation or if it affects the legitimacy of election processes, the elections will be delayed from the specified date up to four months after suggestion by the IEC and approval of the committee comprised of head and members of the National Security Council, heads of the two houses of parliament, head of the Supreme Court and head of the independent commission overseeing the implementation of the Constitution.”

Section two of the article says that the commission can delay it for another four months if the problems are not solved during the first four months.

This comes after a recent controversial decision was made for zone-based elections in Ghazni. 

On July 15 the IEC announced that it had finalized the electoral calendar for Ghazni province despite the backlash over the zone-based election plan. 

Based on the IEC’s timetable, the voter registration process should be rolled out in the center, in districts and in villages simultaneously. This process is scheduled to start on July 28 and end on August 16.

According to IEC regulations, the parliamentary and district council candidates may file nomination papers from August 1 to August 13.

Lawmakers from Ghazni have however expressed their unhappiness over the zone-based election plan.