KABUL - The Meshrano Jirga -- or the upper house of the parliament -- on Sunday appointed a delegation to investigate the final results from the April provincial council elections.

As the Senate debate the results that were announced after seven months of wait, a number of lawmakers accused the election bodies of committing fraud.

Second Deputy Chairman Rafiullah Gul Afghan claimed the Independent Election Commission and the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) had dealt with some candidate selectively.

“On the eve of the election result, my name remained on the list (of successful candidates), but now it is missing,” the senator said, blaming the commissions for being unfair to him.

He claimed having documentary evidence of the election officials receiving bribes. Several runners were ready to say on oath that they had paid bribes, the MP said, warning of leading protests in Kabul.

A legislator from southern Zabul province, Daud Hasas, also alleged his name was excluded from the list of winners at the eleventh hour. He asked the commissions to convince him why he was removed from the list.

His colleague from Kabul Khaliqdad Balaghi lashed out at the election bodies for committing irregularities. “Unless convinced by the commissions, I won’t allow senators from other provinces to enter the house.

Chairing the session, Deputy Chairman Mohammad Alam Ezedyar announced a Senate delegation would start probing the results tomorrow and submit its findings to the house on Tuesday.   (Pajhwok)