Stop making own predictions: IEC to runners

KABUL) on Tuesday asked media outlets and presidential hopefuls to refrain from making their own predictions about the results.

Some impatient candidates are said to have started collecting data of results displayed at polling centres in order to count the votes themseves. IEC officials say such acts could undermine the process of counting votes and disturb the public mind.

The IEC started counting votes in Kabul on Sunday, but is yet to share anything with media outlets.

The commission has promised announcing the partial results soon, but denies giving an exact date and time.

IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor asked local and international observers to oversee the vote count to ensure it was transparent.

Nearly 350,000 Afghan and international observers oversaw Saturday’s elections as more than seven million people turned out to exercise their franchise.

Ballot boxes and other electoral materials from Kabul, Parwan, Kapisa and Panjsher provinces have reached the IEC’s vote tally centre in Kabul, Noor said.

He said the results from Herat, Badghis, Farah, Ghor, Kandahar, Laghman, Helmand, Paktia, Nangarhar and Kunar provinces will be reaching the Kabul IEC office today and from north and northeastern provinces as of Wednesday.     

Ballot boxes and other electoral materials have been delivered to the IEC’s regional offices in 31 provinces, but remained stuck in 37 districts of Ghor, Badakhshan and Daikundi provinces.

He said it had been decided to airlift electoral materials from troubled parts in 22 provinces and by road in the remaining 12 provinces.

On fraud allegations, Noor said they would be investigated in the presence of Afghan and international observers.

mrh/ma

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