KABUL - The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Wednesday said it had fined two presidential candidates and more than one thousand provincial council runners 76 million afghanis in total for violations of rules during the April elections.

IECC spokesman Nader Mohseni told reporters in Kabul that irregularities of the two presidential candidates and 1061 provincial council contenders had been proven.

He did not name anyone from the provincial council candidates, but said the two presidential runners fined were Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf and Mohammad Shafiq Gul Agha Sherzai.

Mohseni also did not reveal the amount of fine the two candidates have to pay and reasons, saying open hearings in this regard had already taken place.

However, in its open hearings after the April elections, the IECC said Gul Agha Sherzai had been fined 100,000 afs for using abusive language against a rival candidate Zalmai Rassoul and the Kabul Municipality had complained that Sayyaf did not pay taxes on his campaign posters.

Mohseni said the provincial candidates were fined for spending more on electioneering as allowed and failing to submit financial reports in-time.

He said each provincial council candidate was allowed to spend 500,000 afghanis and they were barred from overspending on election campaigns. (Pajhwok)