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Gov’t leaders must agree on amendment of election law

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Last Updated on: October 25, 2022

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The National Unity Government (NUG) leaders should reach an agreement on amendment of the electoral law that the country comes out of this deteriorating situation, said one of the advisers of Executive Office.

The Executive Office Media Adviser, Hashmatullah Radfar in a press conference said that the government should stop killing the time for the reforms of electoral system.

“We accept that the shortcomings were from both sides but wasting the time for electoral reforms is inexcusable. We should commit on amendment of the electoral law,” said Hashmatullah Radfar, The Executive Office Media Adviser.

This comes as that all hopes look forward to the new chairman of the election commission and the time for start of Selecting Committee’s work is still unclear.

“We have received President’s decree for start of the selecting committee’s work, but we cannot say when the committee starts working,” said Zarqa Yaftali, member of the selecting committee.

Meanwhile, the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) also says that the National Unity Government must not come under the pressures of Press for reforming the electoral system.

Afghan Parliament members are also said to believe that the only way to solve the current challenges is reforming the election commissions.

In September 2014, after months of deadlock over the contested electoral results, the two presidential candidates signed a power-sharing deal to protect national unity, introducing the office of the Chief Executive.

The relationship between Ashraf Ghani, President, and Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive, has not always been rosy with frequent conflicts erupting between the two highest offices of the state.

The latest chapter in this troubled relationship is the conflict over electoral reform. There is a shared agreement that electoral reform is of fundamental importance in order to ensure a fair electoral process on the occasion of the next Parliamentary election which will take place in September 2015.

After becoming the leaders of the National Unity Government, Ghani and Abdullah promised to reform the electoral system in order to prevent crises in future elections.

Some amendments are under discussion in the Parliament, in particular in the appointment process and responsibilities of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Further changes include statutes making the IEC a temporary body only formed during election time, requiring members of the commission to go through a re-appointment process in a bid to boost their accountability.

There is a widespread concern that the gridlock over the reform could spark further uncertainty in the country, to the point of bringing about protests and disorder should the upcoming parliamentary election be held under the same law.

Fuelling possible popular distrust and lack of confidence in the electoral process, there are rumors that the members of the electoral commissions are holding meetings with MPs to dissuade them from supporting the legislation by promising favors in exchange for upcoming elections.

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Escalating violence in Pashtun regions during Ramadan raises concerns

He described these incidents as grave violations of international law and acts that have deepened fears among affected communities.

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Amid the holy month of Ramadan, violence has continued in several Pashtun areas, raising serious concerns among local communities.

In a post in X, Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, the founder and head of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, noted that in Tirah, four Pashtun civilians were reportedly killed and six others injured during operations carried out by the Pakistani army. Protests that followed in Orakzai were also met with force, leaving four more individuals seeking peace and justice injured.

In Afghanistan’s Behsud district, 17 civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed in airstrikes attributed to Pakistani forces, he stated.

He described these incidents as grave violations of international law and acts that have deepened fears among affected communities.

In recent days, additional casualties have been reported in Rozmak, Shawal (North Waziristan), Mubarak Shahi village (Mir Ali), Speen Wam, Abakhel village, Dosali, Takhte Khel (Lakki Marwat), Azam Warsak (South Waziristan), Bajaur, and Bannu, where clashes between security forces and armed groups have resulted in deaths and injuries among civilians, Pashteen said.

He stated that the ongoing violence reflects longstanding grievances in Pashtun regions. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has stated that it will continue to oppose what it describes as injustices against Pashtun communities and will stand in solidarity with those affected.

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UNAMA reports civilian casualties from Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan

UNAMA urged all parties to end hostilities, protect civilians, and uphold international law principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution to prevent further civilian harm.

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The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has confirmed credible reports of civilian casualties following overnight Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan on 21–22 February.

Airstrikes in Behsud and Khogyani districts of Nangarhar province, carried out between approximately 23:45 on 21 February and 00:15 on 22 February, have reportedly killed at least 13 civilians and injured seven others, including women and children.

Pakistani forces also struck Barmal and Urgun districts in Paktika province.

In Barmal’s Marghai area, an airstrike on 21 February around 23:15 hit a madrassa and partially damaged a nearby mosque.

In Urgun’s Dahna area, an airstrike at approximately 23:30 partially destroyed a vacant private residence. No civilian casualties have been reported from these strikes.

UNAMA urged all parties to end hostilities, protect civilians, and uphold international law principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution to prevent further civilian harm.

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Eight schoolchildren among those killed in Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan

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At least eight schoolchildren — five boys and three girls — were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Behsud district of Nangarhar province early Sunday, Afghan officials confirmed on Monday.

The Ministry of Education reported the tragic losses, highlighting the impact of strikes on civilians and students in the region.

Education Ministry spokesman Mansoor Ahmad Hamza also said that a student at a religious seminary was injured in Barmal district of Paktika province, another area affected by the Pakistani military attacks over the weekend.

Dozens of civilians have reportedly been killed or injured in the airstrikes, which Afghan authorities say targeted residential homes and community areas in both Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.

Local sources describe scenes of devastation, with families searching through rubble and emergency personnel rushing to rescue trapped individuals.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defense condemned the strikes, saying they constitute a violation of Afghan sovereignty and have caused significant civilian harm.

Officials reiterated that Afghan territory must not be used for attacks against other countries and called for restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation.

The strikes come amid ongoing tensions along the disputed Durand Line between  Afghanistan and Pakistan, where security concerns and accusations of militancy have frequently strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad. Analysts note that repeated civilian casualties risk further inflaming regional tensions and complicating diplomatic efforts to reduce violence along the frontier.

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