KABUL - Sarir Ahmad Barmak, an Independent Election Commission (IEC) member, on Sunday called for the prosecution of IEC officials suspected of fraud during the 2014 elections.
The remarks come amid extensive efforts aimed at finalizing the appointment of members of the selection committee of the IEC.
The 2014 presidential elections in Afghanistan hit an impasse following fraud and vote-rigging accusations by CEO Abdullah Abdullah, who at the time was one of the presidential frontrunners and key rival to now President Ashraf Ghani.
While government is determined to stick to its plan of undertaking systematic reforms in Afghanistan's election system, Barmak maintains that reforms will not help by just removing IEC officials.
He states that action must be taken against those who played a role in rigging the elections thereby pushing the nation towards political deadlock and social uncertainty.
"Those individuals who committed fraud and who rigged the election must be investigated. If they really want to bring reforms to Afghanistan, in order to revive public confidence, they (government) must look at who committed repression and fraud and sabotaged the process, then reforms will mean something," Barmak said.
In reference to Barmak's remarks, meanwhile, the CEO's office said the legal and judicial bodies will take proper action against corrupt officials once the new members of the election commission have been appointed.
"Those who committed treason on the ballot papers of the people of Afghanistan must respond to their act of treason," said Jawed Faisal, deputy spokesman to the CEO.
"It is the responsibility of the legal and judicial institutions to tackle the issue," said deputy presidential spokesman Dawa Khan Menapal.
In addition, the Office of the Attorney General of Afghanistan (AGO) has also said that the concerned body will take necessary measures to probe the issue if complaints against individuals are lodged.
"The attorney general is committed to following the case seriously and serve the law equally on all," said Jamshid Rasoli, spokesman for the AGO.
"If someone has not done his duty and moved the country towards a crisis and brought disunity and disintegration then he must be punished," said MP Sayed Hussain Sharifi Balkhabi.
Following the revelations of corruption during the elections, Ghani's rival Abdullah suspended all cooperation with the IEC and accused its members of rigging the elections.
However, Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani, who at the time was serving as IEC chief, was removed from his position.
However, he was recently appointed as Afghan ambassador to Spain, a move that drew strong reaction from Abdullah.
Nuristani's appointment also sparked strong reaction by Minister of Foreign Affairs Salahuddin Rabbani.
Reports surfaced that ties between the president and the foreign minister were strained following the appointment. (Tolonews)