KABUL - Members of presidential candidate Abdullah Andullah's campaign team have accused the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) of planning extensive electoral fraud during the runoff. They said the commission would be incapable of properly sifting out fraudulent votes and addressing complaints so long as it is partial toward one of the candidates.

The spokesman of Abdullah's team, Mujib Rahman Rahimi, on Monday questioned the ability of the commission to execute its duties without bias. "The ECC, itself, is working in opposition to procedures and oaths, and is one-sided and involved in planning fraud, so then how can we expect the investigation of complaints by such a commission?"

"Without a decision at the highest level, it would be difficult to talk about registering complaints," Rahimi added.

However, former ECC members who are knowledgeable on the subject emphasized that Abdullah should have expressed his concerns about the commission prior to the runoff Election Day.

"Dr Abdullah had to declare all the shortcomings of the election commissions before the runoff was held," former ECC member Aminullah Shareq said.

But other experts have also echoed some of the Abdullah camp's grievances with the ECC. "The incapability of the ECC caused the elections to become more flawed," Fazl Ahmad Manawee said. "Various groups formed the commissions and everyone is joined with a political group."

Nevertheless, Abdullah's rival, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, along with his supporters, seem more optimistic about the election commission's work.

"We accepted the decision of the ECC in the first round, and we will accept its decision if it is in line with the laws," Ghani team member Mohammad Sediq Patman said.

The ECC throughout hundreds of thousands of votes in the first round in April after their validity was called into question. Members of the commission have emphasized that any concerns regarding fraud must be submitted in the form of a formal complaint if they are to be followed-up. (Tolonews)