Political parties threaten protests if election system not changed

KABUL) if their demand was not met.

Addressing a press conference here, representatives of major political parties including Jamiat-i-Islami, Junbish-i-Islami, Hezb-i-Wahdat Islami, Hezb-i-Afghan Mellat and Hezb-i-Mahaz Melli, said the current system of election was one of the major problems of the country.

They stressed over introduction of Proportional Representation (PR) and demanded a well-reformed system in which tribal, provincial, geographical and political balance of the population was protected.

Asadullah Saadati, from the Wahdat Islami Afghanistan, said the current election system “Single-Non Transferable Vote (SNTV)” was part of Afghanistan’s problems and should be changed to PR system.

Obaidullah Barakzai, representing the Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan, said the SNTV system was not effective in current circumstances and should be converted to PR system so that people were able to vote in their own constituency.

Muhiuddin Mehdi, a representative of Jamiat-i-Islami, said political parties had presented the new election strategy to the government, but it did not show interest.

The IEC in response to the political parties demand said they were committed to introducing reforms into the election system in line with the election law.

IEC Commissioner Syed Hafeezullah said change in the election system was not possible due the lack of time. He said the IEC was busy making preparations for the upcoming polls and such move might hamper their preparations.

nh/ma