KHOST CITY (PAN): Unsuccessful parliamentary candidates and residents of the southeastern province of Khost on Thursday staged a protest demonstration against Independent Election Commission (IEC) officials.

A large number of failed runners and people chanted slogans against the IEC chief and others officials for their failure to prevent widespread fraud in the September 18 parliamentary ballot.

One of the failed candidates, Maulvi Muhammad Sardar Zadran, said the preliminary results were unacceptable to them.

There have been massive irregularities on Election Day, he alleged, saying powerful candidates had been declared winners despite the fact that they had committed brazen irregularities.

Speaking on behalf of the unsuccessful contestants, he asked the government to try IEC chief Fazal Ahmad Manawi for his failure to ensure a fair ballot.

Another candidate, Ghazi Nawaz Tanai, who is also head of the tribal solidarity council, blamed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) officials for carelessly reviewing fraud allegations.

"Soon after the election, ECC officials said Khost is in second position in poll fraud, but no action has been taken in this regard," he said.

Police arrested the regional IEC chief, Shahzada Hassan, in Khost on the charge of committing fraud in the election. Zadran asked the government to order Hassan's trial as soon as possible.

Participants also released a resolution, warning of continued protests until their demands were met. Such demonstrations were also carried out in Kabul and other provinces during the ongoing week.

Preliminary results from the September 18 elections were announced nearly three weeks back and the final outcome expected a fortnight later, according to IEC officials.

frm/ma/mud