Civil society names rep for selection body

KABUL groups on Monday nominated Mohammad Naeem Ayubzada as their representative for the selection committee that has been tasked with recommending Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) candidates to the president.

With the nomination of the civil society representative, the selection body started working today on finalising IECC probables, its spokesman and Senate Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar said.

Nine Independent Election Commission (IEC) members, named by the body, have already been approved by President Hamid Karzai in line with a new election law, which was passed in mid-July.

The committee includes parliamentary speakers, the chief justice, a civil society representative, human rights campaigners and other officials. Due to differences, civil society failed to name its representative in time.

Muslimyar told Pajhwok Afghan News the Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA), Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) and civil society had finally agreed on Ayubzada’s nomination.

A day earlier, the selection committee gave civil society 24 hours to introduce its representative until 9am on Monday.

But FEFA spokesman Mohammad Fahim Naeem did not agree with the nomination of Ayubzada and said most civil society groups had shown their opposition to the decision.

He claimed Ayubzada did not have much experience in the field and he was under government influence. “We are waiting for FEFA supporters’ reaction to the decision…”

Muslimyar promised the selection committee would soon introduce 15 individuals to the president, who would choose five of them as IECC members.

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