Initial list of candidates likely today: IEC

KABUL) on Saturday said it was likely to release a preliminary list of candidates for next year’s presidential and provincial council elections later in the day.

IEC Secretary Ziaul Haq Amarkhel told Pajhwok Afghan News the vetting process of documents candidates had submitted with the election commission was still ongoing.

“I can’t go into details. We still have some work to do on the subject today. There is a chance we may issue the preliminary list this afternoon,” Amarkhel said.

Only one presidential candidate has been disqualified after failing to meet the candidacy criteria, reducing their number from 27 to 26. For provincial council seats, more than 3000 candidates have nominated themselves.

With vetting process ongoing, election officials have been refusing to comment on how many candidates are facing disqualification.

Dil Agha Kohdanami was the only presidential candidate, who had been officially dropped from the electoral fray.

The IEC has earlier announced the initial list of eligible candidates would be announced on Saturday according to schedule.

The final list of candidates will be displayed a month later.

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