KABUL - The chairman of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), Yusuf Nuristani, who was summoned by the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Saturday, said the commission is 'fully' ready to hold parliamentary and district council elections.
He said he will announce the parliamentary and district council elections' schedule within the next two days.
Nuristani once again criticized the electoral process for being politicalized and said there is a need for proper review of polling stations and other technicalities in the electoral process.
"IEC, as a body responsible for holding elections, has decided to announce the schedule of parliamentary and district council elections in the next two days - on Monday. I hope that government will work on the provision of a budget and will take security measures," he said.
Meanwhile, Nuristani said government has shown an interest in holding the elections with the current commissioners.
"Both houses of parliament— Wolesi Jirga and Meshrano Jirga— have placed their trust in us to hold the elections. That's why the two houses summoned us to brief them on our preparations for holding elections. Yes, government is interested to hold elections," he added.
A number of MPs meanwhile said the election will be held after President Ashraf Ghani's decree on the amendment of electoral laws is passed by parliament and also after bringing reforms in electoral bodies.
"In a meeting that we had with the president, it was agreed that the president will issue another decree during winter break of parliament. Once the electoral reforms are brought, parliamentary and district council elections should be held," said the Wolesi Jirga's second deputy speaker, Mohammad Nazir Ahmadzai.
"People, civil society, international community and government don't want these people to hold elections, because people have lost trust in them and the international community is not ready to financially support the elections, before bringing about reforms," said Mohammad Abduh, the chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Wolesi Jirga.
The Presidential Palace said that the government is committed to bringing about reforms in the electoral process and the reforms will be brought immediately.
Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Second Vice President Sarwar Danish recently said the parliamentary and district council elections will be held by new commissioners – which will be introduced by the Election Commissions Selection Committee. But it is not clear yet what the fate of the electoral bodies and the parliamentary polls will be. (Tolonews)