KABUL - Shah Sultan Akifi, the head of the Electoral Reform Commission (ERC), has stressed the need for IEC officials to work together to bring about inclusive reforms in the country's electoral system.
Speaking at a meeting with officials from the Afghanistan Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Wednesday, he said that reforms could also lead to the dismissal of IEC officials.
The ERC chairman said the electoral reform body was pursuing only one agenda that comprises the implementation of necessary reforms in the election system and said leaders of the National Unity Government have not interfered in any way.
The ERC chief assured the IEC officials that the commission will not side with anyone in government and that the ERC was determined to identify the challenges facing the electoral system. He said that the reform commission will take decisions in line with the law.
The ERC is expected to submit its findings to the president within three weeks. However, the ERC has accused a number of people close to the leaders of the NUG of being involved in electoral fraud during the previous elections.
"We move forward in the spirit of cooperation. At our meeting with officials of the independent election commission we reiterated that the people expect reforms and for this purpose, we need to have a look at the election law including the law on job descriptions and authorities of the election commission and this could lead to a focus on the structure of the IEC," Akifi said.
In recent days, the ERC has held meetings in Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah's office building and in this time ERC officials frequently met with government officials.
"We held our last meeting in the CEO's office building today. Our next meeting will be held in our own office in Kabul. During this period we met the CEO several times. But we have not met with the president due to his schedule. However the second vice president regularly met with us on behalf of the president and he persistently reaffirmed his commitments for electoral reforms," Akifi added.
He said that the ERC was completely aware of the electoral impasse and irregularities during the previous elections and that there is a need to work hard at maintaining transparency during future elections.
Meanwhile, a number of residents have said that the government must work through its reform process as soon as possible so as to revive public trust in the elections.
"I was part of the campaign and there was extensive fraud. Public trust must be revived regarding elections, otherwise no one will vote in future," Kabul resident Abdullah said.
"This is a failed government and it can't bring about reform. A professional individual must be appointed and favoritism must be avoided," another resident Subhan said. (Tolonews)