KABUL - Supporters and representatives of political parties have closed main roads in different parts of capital Kabul to press the government to accept their election-related demands.
The protesters say demands should be met ahead of the October 20 elections.
Demands
Allowing representatives of political parties to monitor the conduct of elections
Changing the current Single None-Transferrable Vote (SNTV) system to a transferable vote system.
The launch of a fresh voter registration through biometric system
Hundreds of supporters of political parties have blocked the roads in some areas of Kabul including Sara-i-Shamali, Public Health Square, and Banai Chock. The protestors say they would extend their protest to other parts of the central capital if their demands were ignored.
Esa Rahimi, a supporter of the Hizb-i-Wahdat-i-Islami party, told reporters that representatives and supporters of seven political parties and the grand national alliance launched the protest after the government failed to implement their demands.
He explained their major demand was switching to transferrable vote system from to SNTV and giving political parties an effective role in monitoring the voting process.
Fazal Rahman Orya, a member of the Grand National Alliance, said the government was not committed to conducting free and fair elections. “The government is wasting time. Instead of holding free elections, the government has begun selections,” he said.
Umar Khan Shewa, cultural affairs representative of Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), said the elections should be held under strict monitoring of political parties.
“We again ask the government to accept demands raised by political parties otherwise we would continue to protest,” he said.
President Ashraf Ghani after meeting heads of political parties has suggested the creation of a joint committee to consider the demands of political parties. (Pajhwok)