KABUL - Election watchdog organizations on Sunday called on the Electoral Commission's Selection Committee to consider transparency in its activities in order to regain people's trust in electoral bodies.

"This is the first step to revive public trust in the electoral process. The committee should assure the people that reforms will be brought to electoral bodies," said Yusuf Rasheed, chief executive for Free and Fair Elections of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Civil Society Elections Network (ACSEN) officials meanwhile called on the Selection Committee to select election commission members based on merit.

"We believe that the Selection Committee should work transparently and far from any kind of political pressure," said Habiburrahman Nang, a member of ACSEN.

"The figures which are introduced for membership of the election commissions should not be dependent on any party and the commissions should not be politicized," he added.

The chairman of the Selection Committee Din Mohammad Geran meanwhile said they will prepare the list of nominees through a transparent process.

"We have been assured by President [Ashraf Ghani] and Chief Executive [Abdullah Abdullah] that they will not interfere in our activities. We promise that we will work impartially," he added.

Meanwhile, a number of senators said the president's decrees on amendments in election laws should be included in the Senate's agenda in order to bring basic reforms in the electoral system.

"The two decrees by the president should be included in the Senate agenda in order to make sure that basic reforms will be brought in the electoral system," said Rahmatullah Achakzai, a senator.

The deputy speaker of Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) also brought up the issue and said: "The senate itself should decide on whether to include the issue in its agenda or not."

This comes after Ghani last week announced that parliamentary and district council elections will be held between next summer and fall. (Tolo News)