The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) said on Saturday the decision made by a special commission on disqualifying 25 electoral candidates was not final and that these candidates had until the end of the day to appeal their decision.

The list of names was released on Friday.

However, the move sparked some anger after it was found that some names removed were those of influential former lawmakers and strongmen - who had received many complaints against.

IECC spokesman Ali Reza Rouhani said the candidates whose names have been dropped from the list can appeal by the end of Saturday and that a final decision will be made by the IECC.

The IECC’s special commission started assessing about 200 complaints against would-be candidates for parliamentary elections last month. The commission later changed its mechanism of assessment and assessed 137 complaints. 

From 137 complaints, the commission disqualified 25 candidates and issued warnings to eight others.

“The decisions and the issues are not final. The candidates will visit the IECC today and tomorrow and we will decide and our decision will be the final decision,” Rouhani said.

Some Kabul residents meanwhile staged a protest outside the IECC compound in the city, saying that the names of Humayun Humayun and Masuma Khawari, incumbent MPs, have not been dropped from the list despite them both having had many complaints lodged against them.

“Mr. Humayun (Humayun) has been warned that he has grabbed land and that he should return this,” said Razia Mangal, a resident of Kabul.

“Humayun Humayun who is the first deputy speaker of parliament has deployed 24 armed men belonging to him to our market and has grabbed the market with force,” said Naqib Kakar, a resident of Kabul.

Reports indicate that Fawzia Kofi, an MP from Badakhshan, Allah Gul Mujahid and Shir Ali Ahmadzai are among the 25 names removed from the list.

“They have made the allegations, but even a child knows the character of Mrs. Kofi. They want to impose political damage to me because of my resistance with the people. They have forgotten that this is not damage this is an honor for me,” Fawzia Kofi said.

“The complaints commission is not independent. They are doing what government orders them. This is unjust,” Allah Gul Mujahid said.

The IECC is expected to announce its final decision about candidates to the Independent Election Commission within the next few days.