Presidential runners asked to help ensure vote transparency

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Presidential hopeful Noor Rahman Lewal has called on all candidates to work for transparency in the election process before their registration.

In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, he said the Wolesi Jirga polls had shown the Independent Election Commission failure to ensure transparency.

For transparency in the presidential election — scheduled for July 20 — Lewal suggested three vital stages:, establishment polling centres based on social justice, accurate voter registration and an immediate vote count.

He believed voting should be based on the biometric system and ballots counted on the election day to minimise the chances of fraud and rigging.

“If the IEC and the government don’t have the ability to ensure transparency we are ready to help them,” he remarked.

Lewal called on presidential candidates to cooperate with IEC in conducting a rigging-free election before they registered.

Abdul Latif Pedram and Mohammad Hakim Torsan have registered as presidential candidates.

His suggestion to prevent disputes and differences are:

The IEC should conduct the electoral process to the satisfaction of candidates and the nation;

The panel should have the capability to carefully evaluate support votes and documents before candidate registration.

The commission should provide runners vote percentage based on estimates in areas where it cannot hold elections. (Pajhwok)