Changes to draft poll law sought

KABUL organisations on Thursday called for amendments to the draft presidential election law.

The proposed law, having 17 chapters and 66 articles, was recently referred to the Ministry of Justice for a legal review.

At a meeting, MPs and civil society activists voiced concern over some articles and asked for a revision of the draft law, one of the participants said.

Ahmad Farid Besim, the executive director of National Development Support (NDS in the presidential election.

They also proposed a reduction in the presidential election fee, one vice-president slot for women and more participation of parties in the ballot.

The draft suggests 30 percent of presidential hopefuls be nominated by political parties, but Besim said they had demanded the percentage be increased to 50.

Under the proposed law, a candidate for the presidency should have at least 10 years work experience in government, he said, proposing that NGO work experience should also be considered.

According to the draft, a candidate has to deposit 2.5 million afghanis with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) in security. The participants sought a cut in the amount to enable genuine contestants to serve the country.

Civil society representatives said ICC members be named by the president and the panel head elected by commissioners. The participants vowed to continue pushing for the changed until they were accepted.

If the Ministry of Justice did not vet and finalise the measure, the next presidential election would be fake, the NDS director commented.

The recommendations were constructive and warranted, remarked a member of the lower house, Qazi Nazir Ahmad Hanifi, who said would convey the suggestions to the Legislative Commission of the Wolesi Jirga.

myn/mud

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