KABUL - The election law in its current draft will not ensure a transparent and fair poll if it is approved by parliament as expected, political parties and civil society groups said Thursday.

At a gathering in Kabul, political leaders and activists spoke out against the election law draft saying it is full of problems and deficiencies.

"If the election is held based on this draft and it has not changed, there should not be any expectation that we will have a democratic election," political activist and university lecturer Abdul Ali Mohammadi said.

"Why do some have one region or province but another groups of Afghans named as nomads can vote in all Afghanistan? This is in contradiction with the Constitution," lawmaker and member of Jamiat-e Islami Abdul Hafiz Mansoor pointed out.

The political leaders stressed that the parties should have more presence in the government and presidential process.

"This situation [of political parties lack of involvement] may help armed opposition groups if a specific position is not given to political parties," National Coalition spokesman Fazl Ahmad Orya said.

The Fair and Free Election Foundation of Afghanistan also has its misgivings about some of the problems faced in next year's poll.

"It is true that counting the votes in the polling stations is fine, but we need to think of how to transport the votes from the provinces to Kabul. This has its own problems given our current possibilities and situation," FEFA executive director Jandad Spinghar said.

The presidential election is slated to be held on April 5 2014. (Tolo News)