Opponents of e-ID card can’t contest polls: MPs

KABUL say that those opposing the electronic national identity cards (e-NICs) had no right to run for elections.

This comes after some lawmakers, including Abdul Latif Paddram, opposed the word Afghan in the e-NICs.

Munawar Shah Bahaduri, a public representative from Herat, said in Wednesday’s session: “Opponents of the process reserve no right under the constitution to contest the polls.”

He stressed possession of the e-NIC must be a condition for Wolesi Jirga and district councils candidate.

Amir Khan Yar, the second deputy speaker who chaired the session, called the word Afghan the identity of the nation. “One who doesn’t accept this cannot contest the upcoming elections.”

Based on the constitution, only Afghan nationals could run for Wolesi Jirga elections, he stressed.

The legislators asked the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) not to allow the candidates who opposed the word Afghan in e-NICs.

But Syed Hafizullah Hashimi, an IEC member, said: “Both paper ID cards and electronic ones are valid. If anything new is added to e-ID cards, then the procedure should be changed.”

sa/mud