Delay in primary results can affect date for final results

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Saturday while lauding negotiations aimed at ending the current election impasse and deadlock said any delay in announcing primary results could affect date for announcement of final results.

Representatives of both the candidates on Friday met and would likely hold another follow-up meeting to discuss thorny issues that led to deadlock in the polls process.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views about current crisis and standoff, with both the sides set agenda for next meeting.

IECC Spokesman Nader Mohsini told a news conference: “The aim of negotiations and discussions is to settle controversial issues in line with election. We support these kinds of discussions in a legal framework, which are in larger interests of the public.”

It is a natural phenomenon that some complaints would surface with the announcement of preliminary results but the IECC would address all complaints during public hearings, Mohsini added.

The preliminary results of the June 14 election was set to be announced on July 2, and the final result on July 22 but the announcement of preliminary results had to be delayed to July 7 due to vote recount of about 2,000 suspected polling stations.

Mohsini said delay in preliminary results would definitely affect the date of final results’ announcement. “The election results delay will not affect working process of the IECC. We are responsible to address all complaints,” he added.

He said that the commission could not leave its work incomplete and it would address all complaints minutely.

Referring to criticism over IECC, Mohsini said they did not publish anything objectionable or in favour of any candidate. “If any of our decision is objectionable to any candidate then we are ready address concerns of everyone,” he reassured.

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