KABUL - The Meshrano Jirga on Sunday said professional individuals should be appointed as commissioners on the electoral bodies.
The upper house asked the government to set a date and take needed measures for holding the long due elections to the Wolesi Jirga and the district councils.
The president has chosen seven individuals as commissioners on the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and five on the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC).
The Presidential Palace had said names of those chosen as commissioners would be published next week.
The Selection Committee had introduced a final list of 15 members for the IECC and 21 members for the IEC to the president for approval.
A Meshrano Jirga member, Gul Ahmad Azami, said the president has to consider merit in choosing commissioners.
He said the government was yet to come up with a date for holding Wolesi Jirga and district council elections. “The government should remain committed to its pledges and set the election date as soon as possible.”
He said the elections should not be delayed under the pretexts of poor security and transparency in elections
Another senator Mohammad Rahim Hassanyar also asked the government leaders to hire people as commissioners on merit.
He said the government should take special measures for holding the Wolesi Jirga and district council elections.
Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar also said the government was committed to holdinf the Wolesi Jirga and district council elections.
The Wolesi Jirga’s five-year term expired on June 22, 2015, but the president extended its term until fresh elections to the house are held. (Pajhwok)