Electoral watchdog warns Dr. Ghani

KABUL): The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Saturday renewed its warning to presidential and provincial council candidates to avoid electioneering ahead of the stipulated time.

IECC officials say they have formally informed presidential and provincial council elections not to embark on election campaigns ahead of the time.

IECC secretary and spokesman Mohammad Nadir Mohseni on Saturday told a press conference in Kabul they had received reports of some candidates having launched activities, which could be considered as election campaign.

He said the reports compelled the IECC to again warn candidates against violating the rules. He named presidential candidate Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and his running mate Abdul Rashid Dostum of having violated the electoral law in this regard.

He said the IECC had twice asked candidates not to embark on electioneering ahead of time, claiming some candidates had been handed over documents proving their violations.

Mohseni said some candidates, ignoring their repeated warnings, had violated the electoral law by opting to activities, which could be called electioneering.

He said the ECC had decided to officially warn Ashraf Ghani and his running mate against doing something that ran counter to the electoral law and principles.

Ghani and his two vice-presidential running mates a day earlier addressed a gathering in Kabul and discussed the elections. Reports quoted Ghani as inviting other runners to a debate. His running mate, Abdul Rashid Dostum, criticised another Dr. Abdullah.

ma/mud