KABUL - President Hamid Karzai on Sunday granted extension to two Independent Election Commission (IEC) members and replaced three others, his office said.
The tenures of Momina Yari and Mohammad Hussain Garziwani were extended, while Ayub Asil, Mastura Stanikzai and Suleman Hamid, who completed their terms, were replaced.
A statement from the Presidential Palace said that the steps had been taken in accordance with Article 156 of the constitution regarding the poll panel's composition and its duties.
IEC has seven members, each having a three years term, according to the commission's spokesman, Noor Mohammad Noor.

The three new commissioners are Mohammad Hashim Faulad, Rida Azimi and Ghulam Dastagir Azad. Noor said IEC chief, Fazal Ahmad Manawi, and member Abdul Khaliq Pashayee was yet to complete their terms.

Having graduated from the Peshawar University in Pakistan, Momina Yari previously served the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).

Garziwani, hailing from northern Faryab province, has a master's in geology from a university in Azerbaijan. He has been as professor of geology at the Kabul University. He has also worked as advisor to the Wolesi Jirga's Commission on Natural Resources and Environment Protection.

Hashim Faulad has been a member of the High Peace Council, while Ghulam Dastagir Azad has served as governor of Nimroz province. Rida Azimi has been a senator.