MAIDAN SHAHR - Around 20,000 of the 100,000 votes cast during the April 5 elections in central Maidan Wardak province were likely to be thrown out, pending a probe into complaints, an Independent Election Commission (IEC) official said on Sunday.

IEC chief in Wardak Noorullah told Pajhwok Afghan News they had registered about 38 complaints regarding fraud and other irregularities during the elections.

Another IEC official, wishing not to be named, said presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah had secured the highest number of votes cast in Wardak. His closest rival Ashraf Ghani finished behind Abdullah in the votes counted, he said.

He said Dr. Zalmai Rassoul was in the third position followed by Qutbuddin Hilal and Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf. However, he would not go into specifics.

Sources told Pajhwok Afghan News there had been no voting in the Jaghtu district of Maidan Wardak. (Pajhwok)