Many Afghans desire prompt electoral reforms

KABUL (Pajhwok): Many Afghans believe a delay in electoral reforms would further deteriorate the country’s security situation.

After forming the unity government, President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) vowed electoral reforms to ensure that future elections were fraud-free.

The president had said a commission would be created to present its suggestions on how to reform the electoral system.

But seven months on, the two leaders are yet to agree to the commission’s formation to work on electoral reforms.

Mohammad Rafiq Shahir, head of the Herat council of professionals, said the electoral system had major flaws which needed to be addressed.

He said the election commissions had major responsibilities, but the widespread irregularities in the last fall’s presidential elections showed the two bodies had failed to properly discharge their duty.

Civil society activist Abdul Malik Rustami predicted the upcoming parliamentary election would face the same issues experienced in the last year’s presidential elections if reforms were not brought to the electoral bodies. He said it would be better not to conduct elections in such situations.

Abdul Wasi, a resident of capital Kabul, said people wanted the electoral bodies to be reformed, adding that changes in the electoral system should not represent the wishes of few influential groups.

He said the employees of election commissions should be professional and qualified people who could work in the larger interest of the people, not a particular group.

nh/ma