71 complaints lodged against preliminary results

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Monday confirmed receiving 71 complaints against preliminary results of the April 5 presidential elections.

IECC spokesman Nader Muhseni told reporters in Kabul most of the complaints were about the fate of invalidated votes in provinces, interferences by powerful individuals and the use of government resources.

He said the complaints regarding the preliminary results included 70 objections, which had been submitted by one of the leading candidates.

Most of the complaints had come from Herat, Kabul, Ghazni, Paktia and Balkh provinces, he said, adding they would start assessing the complaints by Monday.

The two leading candidates, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai have expressed their optimism to win the election in the first round, but the IECC said it was a premature assumption.

Muhseni said the complaints would be investigated in the presence of candidates in an open manner.

According to the schedule of the Independent Election Commission, complaints must be probed within 20 days of preliminary results before the announcement of final results expected on May 14.

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