Above 9m ballot papers for WJ polls being printed: IEC

KABUL election would be printed in the near future.

On the other hand, the IEC hoped for reopening of their offices closed by protestors in the capital Kabul and some other provinces, for tomorrow, Saturday.

Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, spokesman to the IEC, told Pajhwok Afghan News the commission’s leadership finalized the design for ballot papers two days ago and sent it to Dubai for printing.

The commission has plan to print more than 9,072,000 ballot papers for the Wolesi Jirga election in Dubai, he said.

He did not provide information about the cost of the ballot papers printing, but said the United Nations was paying the printing budget.

On the other hand, Ibrahimi expressed concern over the closure of IEC offices and said they were faced with problems in appointing provincial commissioners and entering the voters’ information into database has been halted.

He said government officials concerned were consulted about the reopening of IEC offices and the commission was promised the problems it faced would be resolved as soon as possible.

Ibrahimi hoped IEC offices would be reopened early coming week and they work according to the schedule and programs.

Earlier, the Independent Electoral Complaint Commission (IECC) had removed the names of 35 candidates from the list of candidates as they could not meet the criteria to contest election.

Supporters of six disqualified Wolesi Jirga candidates closed the entrance of the IEC in Kabul eight days ago.

About one hundred supporters of the barred election contenders rallied in the high-security capital against the IEC decision. They wanted the panel to reverse the decision.

The rally was organized by backers of MullahTarakhel Mohammadi, Qais Hassan, Ziaul Haq Amarkhel, Sher Ali Ahmadzai, Zardad Faryadi and Akbar Stanikzai who are removed from the final list of Wolesi Jirga candidates.

The protestors complained the IECC had not informed the candidates before their names were struck off the final list.

However, the IECC on August 19 said that their decision regarding removal of 35 Wolesi Jirga candidates from the final list was final and irreversible.

mds

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