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ACSEN demands reforms in Special Commission for Electoral Reforms
Members from Afghan Civil Society and Elections Network (ACSEN) announced that the Special Commission for fundamental electoral reforms has defects and will face deadlocks with the current structure.
ACSEN members attended a joint press conference in Kabul on Monday stating that the Special Commission tasked for electoral reforms will face with a deadlock, because the members assigned for this commission are not unbiased people, they were supporting both the President and the CEO during the 2014 disputed elections campaigns.
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Jandad Spinghar Chairman of Election Watch of Afghanistan (EWA) and head of ACSEN said,” An apparent disagreement over the structure and job descriptions of the electoral reforms commission is existing between the President and the Chief Executive of Afghanistan, and there is no doubt that the commission will be able to finalize their decisions, this will face elections to a new deadlock”.
Another member of the civil society ACSEN group believes that members of the commission appointed for electoral reforms are biased and will serve for their own related-team.
“We are worried about the current structure of the commission, because it is more political than being technical and we are asking the officials to reconsider the current members once again,” Naeem Ayoubzada, Director of Transparent Election Forum of Afghanistan (TEFA) said.
Yet the commission has not started their activities, but disagreements are clear between the National Unity Government leaders over the structure, procedures and some other important issues.
Recently, President Ghani tasked a special commission of electoral reforms led by Shukria Barakzai for bringing fundamental reforms in electoral system.
In the decree, Sediqullah Tawhidi has been appointed as deputy and Ali Amiri, Abdul Qadeer Karyab, Bashir Farooq, Dr. Mohammad Amin Ahmadi, Faizullah Zaki, Kawoon Kakar, Sabrina Saqib, Gul Ahmad Madadzai, Azizullah Rafiyee, Abdul Majeed Ghanizada and UN representative Tadamichi Yamamoto have been appointed as members and Shah Sultan Akifi and Wagma Ferogh as secretaries in the commission.
Reports suggest disagreements over Ms. Barakzai assignment as the head of the commission as well.
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Reported by: Ahmad Farshad Saleh
Mohammad Hassan Akhund, in his Eid message, has emphasized stronger support and assistance for returnees and victims of recent floods and earthquakes, saying the Islamic Emirate has worked to help affected families within its available capacity.
He said many of the challenges facing the Muslim world stem from division and self-interest, stressing that unity, cooperation, and solidarity must be strengthened at both individual and societal levels.
The prime minister noted that in recent months millions of migrants have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries, while others have been displaced due to natural disasters. He said the authorities have tried to provide assistance to these families to the extent possible.
Mohammad Hassan Akhund also instructed officials to visit families of martyrs, orphans, and people with disabilities during Eid and to listen to public concerns. He further directed security and defense forces to ensure heightened vigilance during the holiday period in order to maintain safety and allow citizens to celebrate Eid in peace.
Eid prayers were also held at the Sapidar Palace in Kabul with the participation of diplomatic representatives and senior officials, while across the country citizens gathered in mosques and open spaces to mark the occasion peacefully.
Residents in various provinces described Eid as a time of reconciliation and unity. A resident of Herat, Hamed, said Eid should be an opportunity to set aside grievances and strengthen bonds of friendship. Another resident, Sultan Ahmad Saber, said Eid is meant to remove divisions, embrace one another, and preserve purity of heart by forgetting past disputes.
In a separate message, former president Hamid Karzai called for the reopening of schools and universities for girls and the creation of job opportunities for women, stressing that Afghanistan’s progress depends on unity, education, and a shared sense of responsibility toward the country.
Turkmenistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have discussed regional cooperation and major infrastructure projects aimed at supporting Afghanistan’s economic recovery, according to the Turkmen government.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Pavel Yershov, the newly appointed head of UNAMA’s office in Herat, and Batyr Yyolov, Turkmenistan’s consul general in Herat, Trend news agency reported.
Both sides emphasized Turkmenistan’s role in promoting stability and economic growth in Afghanistan through regional energy and transport projects, including the TAPI gas pipeline and electricity transmission initiatives.
The meeting also focused on ongoing railway development and modernization projects aimed at improving connectivity and trade links between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, has said that the Islamic Emirate would not compromise on Islam or Islamic law with any country or group, but remains ready to engage with the international community within the framework of Sharia.
In his Eid al-Adha sermon at the Eidgah in Kandahar, Akhundzada said Afghans are prepared to endure economic hardships and external pressure, but “will not bow to infidels” or abandon their religious values. “The world should not expect us to compromise on the religion of Allah or give up our faith,” he said.
The Supreme Leader also stressed the importance of unity and preventing discord, saying solidarity among the people is essential for maintaining peace and preventing conflict in the country.
“I do not protect myself with the lives of the people; I protect the people with my own life,” he said. “I stood for unity, harmony and peace among the people so that war and discord would not return, and I remain committed to that.”
Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada also referred to the amnesty announced for former government officials and urged them to return to Afghanistan and live without fear. He said the country belongs to all Afghans and that everyone has the right to live in their homeland.
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