Unity govt need of the hour: Ghani team

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Change and Continuity team, led by presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, on Saturday stressed results from the June presidential election should be announced forthwith, vowing to protect the Constitution and national unity.

Marking the Martyrs’ Week and the 13th death anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud at the Loya Jirga tent, Ahmadzai’s team members asked the Independent Election Commission to urgently announce the election results.

Sarwar Danish, Ghani’s 2nd vice-president candidate, told the gathering their team made every decision in line the country’s Constitution. “We will never violate the Constitution in negotiations and making decisions,” he said.

Negotiations between the two campaigns on forming a national unity government began a month ago and are still ongoing. However, the sides are yet to reach consensus on the proposed chief executive position.

The Reform and Unanimity team, led by Dr Abdullah Abdullah, insists the chief executive should be the head of the Cabinet, but Ahmadzai’s team calls it against the Constitution.

Danish said elections were the only legal way to elect a future president and there was no alternative process. He added the constitution would not be violated.

He said the people were tired waiting for the election results and the IEC should announce the outcome at the earliest.

He hoped the result announcement would help resolve problems stemming from the electoral deadlock.

Danish called the formation of a national unity government as constitutional and the need of the hour.

“There is no need for political negotiations on a national unity government, which is the demand of all Afghans. No government can unless it is based on national unity,” Danish believed.

A message from Ahmadzai’s first vice-president, General Abdur Rashid Dostum, was read out to the gathering.

The message said Afghanistan was in a critical situation and people were waiting for the final election results.

mds/ma

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