Campaigning for presidential election from Saturday

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Thursday said electioneering for the upcoming presidential election would kick off on Saturday (July 27), asking candidates to avoid violating the law.

In line with the election schedule, the official campaign period for the presidential election is 60 days starting from July 27 till September 25. People will use their right to enfranchise and choose the new president on September 28.

IECC head Zahra Bayan Shinwari told reporters in Kabul that the presidential hopefuls and their supporters had no right to interfere, create problems and obstacles to the election campaign, meetings and gatherings of other candidates.

She said the candidates should conduct their campaign in line with the election law otherwise they would be punished under the law.

The commission also issued a statement which asked the candidates to go by the law, the period of campaign and provide complete report about their financial spending on campaigns.

IECC Spokesman Mohammad Qasim Elyasi said the election campaign period was 60 days and warned campaigning beyond the official period would be assumed as rigging and fraud.

“No candidate has registered complaint against another rival candidate regarding early campaigning. We urge them to avoid campaigning before and after the official period.”

nh/ma