Election process to be challenging if electoral system not reformed

National unity government does not have political will to bring reforms in electoral systems, former head of independent election commission (IEC) said.

Former head of IEC, Fazal Ahmad Manawi said, “If fundamental changes do not enter into the structure of election commissions, the electoral process will face greater challenges.”

Former head of IEC in a special interview with Ariananews said that the government did not act as its commitments for creation of reforms in electoral commissions.

Fazal Ahmad noted that there is not a joint vision between President Ghani and the chief of executive officer for wiping out the electoral challenges and if similarly the situation continues the upcoming elections will have no legitimacy to people.

“There are high concerns over the electoral reforms, there is still a chance to make these reforms.
No agreements have been made between President and CEO about the electoral reforms so far. Unfortunately, the new government has not done the key duties for reforming the electoral bodies.”

Manawi stressed that the electoral commissions requires fundamental reforms and the current status of the electoral commission is not acceptable for people.

In the meantime, head of Afghanistan democracy watch is said to consider the current situation of electoral commissions alarming and said that electoral reforms commission should be created soon.

Zakaria Barikzai, head of Afghanistan democracy watch said, “Our demand is the reforms in electoral commission that we can witness fundamental changes in electoral bodies.”

This comes as earlier, the observing electoral commissions have repeatedly urged the government to create electoral reforms commission for reforms in electoral systems.
Reported by Rafie Sidiqii