Digital data center’s lock not broken: Nuristani

KABUL) on Tuesday said not the lock of its digital data collection center but of the general gate’s lock had been broken.

The IEC inaugurated the digital data center facility on September 30 in order to analyze results forms transmitted to the IEC during 2019 presidential election. IEC officials said that photographs of the result forms of polling stations recorded by the biometric voter verification (BVV) devices would be sent to the digital center for comparison and conformation

A day earlier, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah’s team during a press conference claimed that the lock of the digital data collection center of the IEC was broken by special police forces and secretariat workers of the commission. The team has asked for clarification about the issue.

Aurangzib, an IEC member, today told reporters, “It is wrong the digital data collection center’s lock was broken by the secretariat workers of the commission to allow two special police personnel, tasked with the compound’s security, to protect themselves from cold at night, Investigations are underway in this regard.”

He said the center where digital data was collected and election workers received training, was kept locked for two days after the incident.

He said a team including he himself, Maulana Mohammad Abdullah, another IEC member, observers from presidential candidates and election oversight institutes had been appointed for investigating the case.

Aurangzib said the IEC leadership was not doing secret activities but it would also not let figures try to sabotage the election process.

“It would be better if security personnel are deployed outside the IEC compound to assuage candidates’ concerns,” he added.

Hawa Alam Nuristani, the IEC chief, told today’s press conference that the lock of the general building had been smashed, not the main center where digital data collection and boxes of important electronic devices were located.

She also acknowledged that breaking the lock of the building was not a right action and said if someone intentionally did this, he would be taken to task.

Nuristani emphasized on transparency in the election process and said the lock issue would be seriously investigated.

Abdullah’s team on Monday said that the lock of the digital data collection center was broken on directives of Habib Rahman Nang, IEC secretary.

However, Nang at today’s press conference rejected the claim and said he and leadership members of the commission were accountable to the public and anyone who had viable evidence could move judiciary organs for investigation.

After the press conference, IEC officials asked journalists to accompany them on opening the digital data collection center’s building, but observers of Abdullah did not let the building to be unlocked.

Mohammad Younuns Nawandish, an observer of Abdullah’s team, said that the result of investigating forceful unlocking of the building had not been shared with them so far and they would not let the building to be unlocked until they knew the real reason behind the issue.

He said there were serious doubts about the breaking of the building’s lock and the officials concerned should provide clarification on the regard.

On the other hand, Daud Sultanzoi, an observer of Ashraf Ghani’s team, said that the center should not be locked even for a minute as it would further delay announcement of the election result.

Aurangzib, however, said that the announcement of primary results would be possible in the next four days if the building was opened for processing the data.

mds/ma

Views: 2