Political parties want biometric, MDR based polls

KABUL (Pajhwok): Heads of political parties and alliances have termed the voter registration process as inappropriate, rigged and demanded fresh registration of voters using the biometric system.

During a meeting here, leadership of major parties stressed over transparency in upcoming polls by changing the current Single-Non-Transferable Vote (SNTV) system to Multi-Dimensional Representation (MDR).

The meeting was attended by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the head of Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan, Mohammad Mohaqiqi, head of the Wahdat-i-Islami, Younis Qanoni, representative of the Herasat and Subat front, Bator Dostum, head of the Jumbesh Melli, Syed Hamid Gilani, head of Mahaz-i-Melli, Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, head of Jabha-i-Nawin, Asadullah Saadati, head of Wahdat-i-Islami Afghanistan and Zarar Ahmad Muqbel, representative of Hamid Karzai.

“We the political parties, movements and national figures consider the current registration process as incomplete and a tool to pave the way for corruption and crisis due to the lack of inaccurate calculation and unprofessional implementation and called on the government and Independent Election Commission (IEC) not to waste the precious time of the nation and tens of millions of dollars.”

The leaders called on the government and IEC to declare the process incomplete and start using biometric technology in holding transparent, non-fraudulent and acceptable elections to all parties as soon as possible.

In another part of the plan, they emphasized on changing the system from SNTV to MDR, saying in a multidimensional electoral system, for all residents of Afghanistan including refugees, internally displaced people those who were in insecure areas.

“We once again emphasize over establishment of political parties’ monitoring institutions in order to monitor the process of elections and no decision and action of the IEC will be carried out without the supervision of the parties.”

Political parties warned: “If the government, IEC and international community do not accept their demands and continue their defective process, we consider it a crisis for Afghanistan.”

Sa/nh

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