KABUL - The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Wednesday welcomed appointments of new commissioners to electoral bodies, saying the move signals a new phase in rebuilding trust in the institutions.
A statement from the UN mission acknowledged the critical task of expediting electoral reforms on the basis of the legal framework and moving forward with necessary preparations.
The commissions had an important responsibility to establish a realistic electoral timeline in order to uphold the people’s constitutional right to participate in elections, the statement said.
UNAMA encouraged the commissions to work with stakeholders in an inclusive, transparent and impartial manner. It congratulated the commissioners on their appointments, saying the mission stood ready to provide technical assistance for the Afghan-led electoral process.
New commissioners on the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) were sworn in on Tuesday.
By issuing two separate decrees, the president has appointed Najibullah Ahmadzai, Abdul Qader Quraishi, Maleha Hassan, Wasima Badghisi, Maazullah Dawlati, Rafiullah Baidar and Gul Ajan Abdul Badi Sayyad as IEC commissioners and Gulam Dastagir Hidayat, Abdul Basir Faez, Ali Reza Rohani, Humaira Haqmal and Abdul Aziz Aryae as IECC commissioners.
Earlier, the Selection Committee had introduced 21 persons to the president as nominees for the IEC and 15 others for the IECC. (Pajhwok)