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Proofs of fraud ignored, claim Khost runners

Proofs of fraud ignored, claim Khost runners

author avatar
29 Oct 2014 - 12:38
Proofs of fraud ignored, claim Khost runners
author avatar
29 Oct 2014 - 12:38

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Some losing provincial council candidates in southeastern Khost province have accused the Independent Election Commission (IEC) of ignoring findings of the watchdog’s investigations.

The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) had promised changes based in the final results on the basis of evidence they had presented, the losers said.  

Hakim Wali Sharafat, one of the unsuccessful runners, said the IECC had lost its credibility by refusing to consider the IECC assessments. If its decisions were not accepted, the watchdog should be dissolved, he argued.  

A female runner, Bibi Omari, said observers attempted to stop fraud, but rigging still took place at a massive scale. “I had 100 votes in one ballot box, but the number was reduced to only 14 — glaring deceit.”  

Another candidate hit out at the IECC for invalidating his votes from several sites without any reason. “Disrespect to people’s votes would widen the gap with the government and the people. We want the government and the national assembly to ensure transparency.”   

A resident of Khost said he was sure that a number of runners had found their way to the council by paying bribes, because they neither conducted proper campaigns nor were popular with the masses.

“Looking the current situation in the wake of the results, I don’t think the people would participate in future elections,” he remarked.

But IEC officials denied the charges as baseless, saying the results were based on proper scrutiny. Fifteen of 62 runners have won the elections in Khost.

ra/mud

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