ACSEN warns against politicising electoral reforms

KABUL and Elections Network (ACSEN) on Thursday warned procrastination in electoral reforms would damage the credibility of the election process.

ACSEN said the public, civil society networks and donor countries had attached high expectations with the unity government to embark on electoral reforms without further delay.

Jandad Spinghar, ACSEN head, said there was no impediment to reforms in the electoral panels. He warned people would lose trust in the elections process and the number of voters would decline in future.

“We are worried about politicisation of the electoral reforms commission. Our demand is that members of the commission should be professionals and civil society should have a major role in their nomination,” he added.

Spinghar said if the president and CEO had tried to influence the panel, there was no hope for proper reforms.

Humaira Saqeb, a member of the network, insisted on professionalism of the panel’s members. She urged the unity government to form the proposed commission as soon as possible.

Earlier, the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) and Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) welcomed the reforms but warned against giving extra-constitutional powers to the commission.

hg/mud

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