After completion of first round of election Afghanistan has entered into second round of counting and final declaration of result. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) undertook a democratic endeavor that earned fame and appreciation across the world. The degree of trust and confidence installed on the democratic setup heightens with every advancing year. The overwhelming participation of throng of people, exercising the right to vote was seeable and praiseworthy, provided the insecurity alarms couldn’t deter them casting their ballot.
The preliminary results of elections have unearthed that Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Dr Ashraf Ghani are the leading candidates. The ultimate result of election will be declared by April 24 in accordance to schedule of Independent Election Commission (IEC).
Formerly the Afghan Election Commission (IEC) announced 50 percent results of presidential race. According to the result unearthed, Abdullah, a former foreign minister in President Hamid Karzai’s previous term, collected 44.4 percent (1536133) of the votes tallied and Ashraf Ghani bagged 33.2 percent (1146251), with Zalmai Rassoul trailing at 10.4 percent (357930) votes in the third position.
The result depicts none of the leading candidate could score 50 plus one percent votes. Under the Afghan Constitution, a presidential candidate must bag 50 plus one percent votes to emerge the winner. A proposal of coalition setup was put forth to two candidates both the leading candidates have categorically ruled out any deal making. Some national and international political figures believe that a coalition setup would be the best alternative to get a new administration installed quickly and to guarantee that the administration is inclusive of representatives of all political forces. Hence, the second round runoff will be put an end to.
Consequently a run-off between two top-rated runners may likely take place within two weeks after the final results are declared. Seeing numerous tasks to be undertaken, the IEC repudiates completing second round within the given time frame. Expectedly sufficient time might be required to lead the whole process towards finalization. At present large number of 400 complaints of fraud and irregularities are assessed by Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC). According to sources of IECC these complaints are kept on priority-A and are addressed prior to result compilation process. Resultantly the final results will be announced on May 14 after the IEC and the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) have made decisions on the large number of complaints received about irregularities in the conduct of the election followed by a runoff.
The runoff election will be a time consuming exercise and will probably mean that the inauguration of the new president will be delayed until July. Many affairs of governance will be put to needless delay which may not be an encouraging omen for this piece of land. Afghanistan is convening economical declination, social degeneration and political chaos. The outgoing President is leaving behind the legacy of male-administration, ill-political priorities, disproportional balance and battered relation with the world and neighboring countries. The political and socio-economic problems barring Afghanistan’s collective progress, could be gotten rid of, given the charisma of the forthcoming elected political leader work.
Amidst manifold troubles, deteriorating state of security stands to be the prior most predicaments; Afghanistan faces at the present. Every day innocent civilians, army and police personnel render prey of endless bloodletting executed by insurgents. Subsequent to every triumphant attack the incumbent government needlessly sticks, finding traces of involvement of foreign elements without putting the concerned department into question and owing a tougher stance crushing terrorists and extremists. The chief executive of the country instead turns apologists justifying the blood shedding of insurgents that have held country hostage and pleads them peace talks.
One of the prime reasons pushing signature of BSA into indefinite delay is the unconditional demand of peace talks with Taliban expected to be channelized by US. Despite owing soft disposition, the government couldn’t earn insurgents favor halting terror attacks instead anticipate international community stage talks. The gentle gesture earned not, good-fate for the war rotten country as insurgents instead of halting, multiplied their attacks on armed forces and unarmed civilians alike.
With inclusion to worsening security condition, Afghanistan’s international relation is equally impacted. The foreign and diplomatic ties of Afghanistan battered with many countries. The international financial investments halted, military aid is on the verge of suspension, financial aids linked to betterment of human rights condition and pro-women legislations which seem not feasible imminently.
The goings of governance suffers acute degeneration given favoritism, misappropriation and financial discrepancy aided by government’s negligence is on the rise. Many public departments and institutions are plagued by inalienable corruption and public officials unnoticeably continue male-practices devoid of anyone’s concern whilst political figures display criminal complicity or negligence. None of the institutions seems well groomed. The billion dollar military aid couldn’t well equip and train afghan national army (ANA), still large number happens to be illiterate.
The election has to do something with repealing, the disgruntled fates of Afghans. Primarily making superficial distinction between one or the other contender might not distant harms or nears riches but their policies and strategies will. It can be assessed by conduction of independent surveys; the ordinary afghan’s needs are quiet realistic than presumptive. Afghans are in the pursuit of charismatic leader who could get the country out of countless challenges and socio-economic crisis and could put it on the refreshed avenues of long-lasting progress and matchless achievements.
Subsequent to installation of democratic setup a change was witnessed, likely a shift was expected in political undertakings to turn issue centric. Regretfully with more or less intensity politics based on nepotism and favoritism is practiced indicative of distracted priorities. In the election the things of worth seeing was ethnically motivated ballot that has little to avert our fates.
With inclusion to every fine detail of governance, foreign relation, financial matters, political priorities, status of BSA and social endeavors countless issues await addresser which might only assume tangible reality subsequent to resumption of office of presidency with altered will of commitment and resolve.