Alleging fraud, IECC official steps down

TALOQAN (Pajhwok) An electoral watchdog member in northern Takhar province on Friday announced his resignation, accusing the panel of supporting a particular candidate in last week’s runoff vote.

Barna Salehi linked his decision to the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IEC) failure to maintain neutrality and the affiliation of all observers with one specific group. 

“I’m formally stepping down as election commissioner and plan to join a group that is struggling for reforms and democracy,” he told a news conference in Taloqan, the provincial capital.

Unwilling to work for an organisation accused of committing fraud, Salehi claimed having evidence of rigging in Takhar. In case of need, he will share the proofs with the media and people.

But Abdul Malik Hamidi, another IECC official who calls himself the acting chief for Takhar, said he was unaware of Burna’s resignation.

Meanwhile, resident Shamsullah opined that a commissioner’s resignation was not the right move to address the issue of electoral anomalies. He asked Salehi to evaluate the documents he had.

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