Afghan election monitoring group concerns over deadlock in electoral reform process

An Afghan election monitoring group on Sunday expressed concern over a deadlock in electoral reform process, saying the delay in reform may deter the conduct of the upcoming parliamentary polls.

"Afghanistan Civil Society Election Network (ACSEN) is deeply concerned over the existed deadlock in the electoral reform process. ACSEN believes the delay in electoral reform has made impossible conduct of next parliamentary elections this year and also undermined public confidence on democracy in the country," ACSEN said in a statement issued here.

The announcement came as the country is preparing for the parliamentary elections which is scheduled for Oct. 15 this year.

According to Afghan laws, the parliamentary elections should be held in early last year. But the government failed to carry it out due to insecurity and political issues over reforming the country' s electoral laws and election system.

On Saturday, Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of Afghan parliament once again failed to approve a President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani's legislative decree on electoral reforms.

The decree was sent to Wolesi Jirga several weeks ago.

ACSEN has urged the Wolesi Jirga "to play its historic role and responsibility with full sincerity against the well of people and civil society by ratifying the presidential decree away from the influence of power-involved elements, and refrain from playing with the process by halting electoral reforms and parliamentary elections."

"Adopting preparations and creating finance and security committees by government cannot be deemed as a realistic step for holding free and fair elections, until polls operational plan is prepared by an independent, credible and national electoral institution in which government departments played supportive role, " said the statement.

ACSEN also called on President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to seek other legal ways for adopting reforms, if parliament rejects the decree.

The first parliamentary election in the post-Taliban country was held on Sept. 18, 2005 while the second took place on Sept. 18, 2010.

Members of the 249-seat Wolesi Jirga will be elected to serve a five-year term.

(APD)