KABUL - The election reform commission reassured that after introducing reforms in the country’s electoral system neither the president nor the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) would be able to hire or fire election commissioners.

Sadiqullah Tawhidi, the commission’s deputy head, told reporters on Saturday that existing election law had several problems and two separate committees had been tasked to work on these laws.

The first committee would scrutinize existing election law and recommend fresh suggestions while the second committee would work upon the structure, responsibilities and powers of election commissions.

He said members of the commission would introduce new ways to prevent fraud, rigging in Wolesi Jirga, presidential, provincial and district council’s elections.

The election reforms commission had formally started working last week. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah during a meeting with its members said the panel would not be a symbolic body because the unity government remained committed to electoral reforms.

The commission last Thursday formally began getting suggestions from political parties, civil society organizations, women rights activist and international stakeholders regarding reforms to the electoral system. 

Shah Sultan Akefi said the commission wanted to make the process transparent and the government was committed to bring reforms to the body.

Electoral reforms are a major point of the US-brokered agreement between President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah on a national unity government. (Pajhwok)