KABUL - A number of Wolesi Jirga candidates have launched campaign by displaying their portraits in cites and electoral symbols on social media ahead of schedule.
The Independent Election Commission termed the campaign before the official time a violation of the electoral law, warning that the perpetrators would be treated in line with the rules.
According to IEC, the election will take place on October 20, with the campaign starting from September 28 and ending on October 17.
But a number of Wolesi Jirga runners across the country have displayed their pictures in different parts, congratulating the nation on Independence Day and Eidul Adha.
They have also posted their photos with electoral symbols and election numbers on Facebook accounts -- apparently beginning to canvass for themselves.
IEC spokesman Syed Hafizullah Hashimi, in an exclusive chat with Pajhwok Afghan News, said the candidates reserved no right to begin campaigns before the scheduled time.
He believed the use of social media to muster the support of voters and display of pictures in cites amounted to election campaigns and violations of the relevant law.
He said the candidates violating the rules would be advised before being warned and fined. If they did not respect the law, the IEC spokesman said, their names would be removed from the list of candidates.
Investigations had been launched by the commission’s media committee and violations cases would be referred to the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC), he informed.
Abdul Badee Sayyad, chairman of IEC, had also referred to the issue at a meeting of the commission. He had said that campaigning ahead of the stipulated time was a violation of the law. (Pajhwok)