Will some of those axed by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) be put back on the list of candidates for presidential and provincial elections?
Will some of those axed by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) be put back on the list of candidates for presidential and provincial elections?On Oct 22, the IEC unveiled a first list of 10 candidates out of 27 who had registered as presidential candidates. The axed candidates have 20 days to challenge their exclusion before the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC).
But IEC head Yusuf Nuristani has already said that those who were excluded had failed the criteria. They either had second nationalities or had not gathered the 100,000 voter cards required to support their candidature.
Technically the IEC has to accept the decision of the complaints commission. Since Oct 24, the Commission has received 500 complaints – 18 related to the presidential poll – from all over the country about its candidate selection.
“There could be a change in the list after the complaints have been investigated,” says Nader Mohseni, spokesperson of the IECC. “Those who are cleared will be re-enlisted,” he adds.
Political observers say the process of investigating complaints must be transparent if it is to be accepted by the candidates and the electorate. The registered cases will be discussed in a meeting attended by representatives of civil society, media, national and international observers, and representatives of political parties for consideration.
There are already misgivings about the intentions of the IEC. Hayatullah Hayat, head of the Civil Society’s Coordination Centre (CSCC), has urged IECC to follow the rules on evaluating complaints.
Excluded candidates have rights under the law to challenge the IEC’s decision to reject their names. These are democratic principles, Hayat adds.
The IECC has taken an ambivalent stand. Spokesperson Mohseni says, “The session for considering the complaints would be open. It would only be hidden when it seems risky for IECC or any party involved. A review would take place for those who are considered to be at risk.”
Central concern
Some axed candidates have expressed concern that the scrutiny may be carried out under pressure from the government.
Fazal Rahman Orya, spokesperson of the National Coalition led by Dr Abdullah Abdullah – whose name is on the first list of presidential candidates – accuses the government of trying to create an atmosphere where electors will vote even should the poll process not be transparent.
Meanwhile, the IECC insists it is not under pressure from “an individual or organisation” on the matter of complaints. There has been no interference from the government or excluded candidates, the spokesperson says.
“We don’t feel any interference. We believe that we have been appointed based on the law and would accomplish our duties,” says Mohseni. “The session, being open, will consider the complaints, ensure there is transparency which will create a feeling of surety in our countrymen and those who have complained,” he adds.
Earlier concerns were aired about the presence of foreign members on the IEC, and calls for their removal as it affects the commission’s impartiality. “We believe that as Afghans are moving to gradual self-sufficiency, they are also moving to self-reliance as well. We have welcomed the trend in the past and see it now also as a good trend. We are sure the trust of Afghans on Afghans can bring required welfare for Afghans,” Mohseni told Killid.
It is only a matter of time before his view will be tested.
Shukria, a civil society activist, nurses misgivings about the poll process. “The record of institutions involved in elections tells us that their work is not as transparent as expected, and there is a lot of fear about it.”
