President Ghani confirms Selecting Committee

Presidential Palace on Wednesday said that the seven members of selecting committee of election commissioner including members of civil society will begin their consultative meeting tomorrow.

The selecting committee of election commission’s commissioners has been confirmed by President Ghani after long term talks.

“The seven members of selecting committee will begin their works on Thursday and will announce their plans in a press conference next week,” said Sayed Zafar Hashemi, deputy spokesman of President.

In the meantime, a number of electoral observing institutions are said to consider the responsibility of selecting committee difficult; citing the committee needs to do their duties out of political shadows.

“Selecting new commissioners of the election commission is a big national responsibility and its seven members should focus on their jobs to hold transparent elections in the future,” said Jan Dad Spin Ghar, head of Afghanistan election watchdog.

The selecting committee will submit a list to President that the government introduce new individuals to election commission.

However, chairman of Independent Election Commission (IEC) says that he would not allow any new commissioners to begin work in IEC.

Based on the principles of the Selection Committee, the members of this committee would introduce 21 persons for membership of Election Commission and 15 others for the electoral complaint commission.