Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) Weekly Election Coverage Newsletter, Aug 27-Sep 2
Wishing anonymity, an official at the Independent Election Commission (IEC) said representatives of the commission, UN and Change and Continuity team were in discussions on resuming the process. A Pajhwok Afghan News journalist reported at around 10:30am that representatives of the Reform and Unanimity team could not be seen on IEC premises. But UN, IEC and Ahmadzai representatives are yet to comment on the latest development. A day earlier, the Reform and Unanimity team, led by presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, warned of boycotting the ongoing vote audit if its technical demands were not meet. Fazal Ahmad Manawi, a member of Dr. Abdullah’s camp, Afghan leaders need hard compromise: Obama said they would not be part of the ongoing ballot audit By Lalit K Jha Aug 27, 2014 - 10:51 anymore. He alleged the process had been politically hijacked. WASHINGTON (PAN): Amidst a lingering dispute over He said the Reform and Unanimity team had some the auditing of votes, US President Barack Obama on reservations about the vote-invalidating procedure. The Tuesday said the leaders of Afghanistan needed to make process had been set in motion at the time when the two hard compromise for the sake of their country's future and sides had not agreed on invalidation benchmarks, he security. claimed. Though Obama did not name anyone during his public Around 72.6 percent of votes have been audited so far as speech in North Carolina, yet his remarks were directly part of the scrutiny that started on July 17 after the aimed at the two presidential candidates – Dr Abdullah electoral process hit an impasse due to severe differences Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. between the candidates. “As Afghans continue to work towards the first democratic Manawi charged most of ballots from a single polling transfer of power in their history, their leaders need to station had been marked by one individual and did not make the hard compromises that are necessary to give the have signatures or stamps, but they were still entered into people a future of security and progress,” Obama to the system. observed. In addition, he said, ballots from 190 polling stations that He added: "As we go forward, we'll continue to partner had been closed due to security concerns on the Election with Afghans so their country can never again be used to Day had also been entered to the system and counted as launch attacks against the United States.”. legal votes. Obama justified his decision to pull out troops, insisting it The former election commission chief explained one of was the right thing to do. Subsequently, he said, his their unmet demands was that the voters’ list should be administration had refocused efforts in Afghanistan and overseen by both teams. The issue had been raised several went after al Qaeda's leadership in the tribal regions in times with the United Nations, which did not pay any Afghanistan and Pakistan. attention, he said. “In just four months, we will complete our combat mission Since the runoff on June 14, Abdullah’s team has twice in Afghanistan and America's longest war will come to a boycotted the IEC and the election process, creating a responsible end. And we honor every American who deadlock, but it resumed cooperation with the commission served to make this progress possible...” he concluded. after mediation by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Ballot audit halted again the UN. By Pajhwok Report Aug 27, 2014 - 11:04 The next president is supposed to attend the upcoming KABUL (Pajhwok): The presidential election vote audit NATO summit to be held in early September. The Wales process was halted yet again on Wednesday morning, a meeting will discuss future cooperation with Afghanistan. new setback to efforts at concluding the process in time, an official said. http://www.pajhwok.com Page 1 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/www.vote.af
Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter
He urged Abdullah team to reverse his decision so that the audit started moving forward under the unchangeable procedure he had earlier agreed to. He pointed out the UN and IEC were yet to receive any suggestion from Abdullah’s team. Mohammad Halim Fidaee, who earlier spoke on behalf of Ahmadzai’s team, said no more changes in the volte invalidation procedure were acceptable. After a final agreement, UN’s listening to demands from Abdullah would raise questions about its neutrality, he warned. 25 complaints filed against vote invalidation By Abasin Zaheer Aug 27, 2014 - 16:33
KABUL (Pajhwok): As the stop-start vote audit process hit Ghani accepts UN call as Abdullah walks out a new snag, the Afghan-led election watchdog announced By Khwaja Baser Ahmad Aug 27, 2014 - 12:32 receiving 25 complaints from the Change and Continuity team against invalidation of bogus votes. KABUL (Pajhwok): The Change and Continuity team, led The announcement comes a day after the Independent by Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, on Wednesday announced Election Commission (IEC) said it had invalidated votes shifting to the United Nations its responsibility to overseen from 72 polling centres cast during the June 14 presidential the vote audit. runoff election. The UN mission’s demand came as Dr. Abdullah Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) Abdullah, leader of the Reform and Unanimity team, spokesman Nadir Mohseni told reporters in Kabul the refused to send his observers to the IEC to monitor the Change and Continuity team, led by Ashraf Ghani ballot scrutiny. Ahmadzai, had submitted 25 complaints against A day earlier, Abdullah had warned of boycotting the invalidation until 5pm on Tuesday. ongoing audit if its technical demands were not meet. One He said the complaints included seven from southeastern of his supporters alleged their views were not accorded Paktika province, six from Kandahar and the rest from any importance. other provinces, where the votes had been cast. Daud Sultanzoy, speaking on behalf of the former World Mohseni said the complaints would be addressed before Bank economist, said the UN had asked them to withdraw noon tomorrow at an open hearing, asking the Change and their representatives from the Independent Election Continuity team and the IEC to send their representatives to Commission (IEC). the hearing. He told journalists: “We have positively responded to the To a question, Mohseni said: “If the Reform and Unanimity United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s call team had any complaint that should have been filed, but we and from now on, we will stay away the audit process.” have not yet received any from their side.” Sultanzoy said ensuring overall transparency and presence Abdullah’s team earlier in the day pulled out of the vote of FFEFA and TIFA representatives in the process were audit process, saying its technical demands had not been among key conditions set by the Ahmadzai camp. The endorsed regarding the invalidation procedure. UN proposal has been accepted by his team, he reiterated. The campaign claimed no prior agreement had been “We will closely observe the situation. If we see signs of reached with it on the UN-proposed invalidation method, a any deviations by UN and international observers that claim the IEC dismissed. The IEC says the two sides had could tarnish our national interests, we will hold them earlier agreed to the procedure. accountable,” he vowed. Mohseni urged the IEC to publish online on its website the At a news conference in Kabul, IEC deputy chief Abdur outcome of invalidated votes as soon as possible. Rahman Hotaki said the audit would proceed in the He said the outcome of the vote recount and scrutiny was absence of representatives of both candidates. The process being reassessed and the electoral teams could submit at will resume soon. every stage their complaints within 24 hours. As per the UN decision, Hotaki said, the audit would Abdullah had previously boycotted the vote count process, continue in the presence of national and international citing massive fraud in the runoff election, but later agreed observers. Representatives of the Change and Continuity with his rival Ashraf Ghani on the formation of a unity team would be kept away as long as the Reform and government. Unanimity team did not rejoin the exercise, he promised.
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About the final result from the provincial council polls, He also noted the organization’s continuing active Mohseni said it would be announced next week by the engagement with both campaigns to hear and address their IEC. technicalconcerns. About the tape recording attributed to second ‘Underlining this request was a realisation that the audit Vice-President Karim Khalili, the IECC spokesman said must not only have integrity, it must be seen to be the matter had been referred to the judiciary. even-handed by all Afghans,” said Haysom. “The process The Reform and Unanimity has also released a similar will now proceed to its conclusion without the direct audio recording claiming to be former IEC secretary Ziaul engagement of representatives of either presidential Haq Amarkhel. Both Amarkhel and Khalili have called the candidate." recordings as fake. He believed that both the 100 percent nationwide audit and Mohseni said they had requested the UN to help confirm the formation of a government of national unity were vital the authenticity of Amarkhel’s voice, but the world body pillars to achieve the credible electoral outcome and a said sorry. He said letters had been sent to the Ministry of peaceful transfer of power that millions of Afghans had Interior, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and voted for. the Attorney General’s Office in the case of Amarkhel, but On Wednesday afternoon, the Independent Election there had been no response as yet. Commission (IEC) announced resumption of the vote audit after a few hours of pause in the absence of candidate representatives. The audit was halted in morning when the Abdullah-led Reform and Unanimity team boycotted the ongoing vote audit. The camp alleged its technical demands had not been meet. IEC’s Deputy Chairman Abdur Rahman Hotaki said the process had been stopped as a result of technical problems. The disruptions caused negative effects on the country, he lamented. Hotaki urged the presidential runner, Dr Abdullah Abdullah, to rejoin the process and help complete the audit in time. The commission will continue the process even at UN wants presidential runner to rejoin vote audit in the absence of candidate representatives. By Meer Agha samimi Aug 27, 2014 - 17:49 Acting Secretary Javid Habibi said they had audited over 3,000 ballot boxes, including 2,500 boxes normal and 500 KABUL (Pajhwok): A UN diplomat on Wednesday asked special boxes identified by the two sides. presidential runner Dr. Abdullah Abdullah to rejoin the He added 46 ballot boxes containing 9,794 votes had been vote audit and help complete the electoral process at the invalidated. Eleven special ballot boxes were also earliest possible. invalidated while others did not have problems. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Deputy Special Representative for Political Ghani, Abdullah meet again to talk out rifts Affairs is Nicholas Fink Haysom welcomed the By Pajhwok Report Aug 27, 2014 - 20:23 resumption of the audit and asked Abdullah to respect the process. Speaking to reporters here, he promised UNAMA KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential runners Dr. Ashraf Ghani would address the concerns of both candidates, saying the Ahmadzai and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah are set to meet world body was doing its best to complete the electoral Wednesday night to talk out their differences on the process as soon as possible. The United Nations today electoral process. pledged to redouble its support to Afghan electoral The two leaders would review the latest deadlock in the authorities in order for the expeditious completion of a ballot audit process and other complex issues with regard to thorough and credible audit of the Presidential run-off the formation of a national unity government, a member of elections of 14 June. Speaking to media in Kabul, the Ahmadzai’s campaign said. Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative to Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, Faizullah Zaki hoped Afghanistan, Mr. Nicholas Haysom, expressed the UN’s that the talks would lead to an amicable resolution of regret at the decision of one of the Presidential candidates, disputes, including specification of a date for the Dr, Abdullah Abdullah, to halt participation in the audit inauguration of the new president. process and encouraged the review of this step.
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Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter
Earlier, the United Nations urged a delay in the new She said it was important to note that the Independent leader’s inauguration -- a call that drew a positive Election Commission (IEC) continued to conduct the audit response from President Hamid Karzai, who now insists and adjudication under the close supervision of the UN, the ceremony, will take place on Sept. 2, come what may. with international and Afghan observers present. Syed Agha Hussain Sancharak, a spokesman for Abdullah’s Reform and Unanimity team, confirmed the candidates would meet yet again. It will be the third contact between the political rivals in a week. “Each of the two candidates has won public votes, no matter how many. Based on people’s mandate, they should agree on a new formula for ending the impasse. Definitely, this discussion is going to be complicated,” he remarked. According Sancharak, the swearing-in ceremony will not take place on Sept. 2 as long as Abdullah and Ahmadzai, who also met last night at the Presidential Palace, remain unable to reach an agreement.
Watchdog begins investigating complaints By Naveed Ahmad Barakzai Aug 28, 2014 - 12:16
KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral Complaint Commission (IECC) on Thursday embarked on the complaint investigation process in the second shift at an open hearing in Kabul, an official said. In the initial session, the watchdog probed 25 complaints filed by the Change and Continuity team against ballots from 72 polling stations that had been declared invalid by the IEC. The votes of two polling stations were declared valid at the hearing. Candidates to accept results, hopes US IECC Chairman Abdul Sattar Sadat said the contenders By Lalit K Jha Aug 28, 2014 - 10:32 should refrain from registration of imprudent complaints WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): Asserting that it will be that lacked solid arguments and led to a waste of time. premature to draw conclusions from the vote audit, the Mohammad Nadir Mohseni, the IECC spokesman, said United States on Wednesday hoped the two presidential according to election laws, standards of invalidation and candidates would accept its outcome. “It is premature to decision of the two institutions endorsed 70 ballot boxes draw conclusions about the audit result,” the State invalid. He refused to give more details. Department spokesperson, Jen Psaki, told reporters at her Meanwhile, Syed Habib Hashimi, a member of the Change daily news conference. and Continuity team, hailed the IEC decision, saying lack In terms of the outcome, she said, both candidates had of knowledge had caused invalidation of most votes. He agreed not only too accept the results of the audit but also alleged invalidation standards were not applied in most of that the winner would serve as president and immediately the cases. form a government, and that the other individual would be UK, US call for early formation of unity govt part of that effort. “I have seen a range of comments. But By Pajhwok Report Aug 28, 2014 - 13:33 again, the audit is not concluded. It’s ongoing. The UN continued to move that process forward today in terms of KABUL (Pajhwok): Top British and American officials counting the ballots. That will continue in the days ahead have urged the presidential candidates to honour their with Afghan and UN observers,” she said. agreement on the formation of government of national On Wednesday, Dr. Abdullah’s team did not send unity. observers to the election audit sites, she said, adding at the UK Prime Minister David Cameron phoned Dr Ashraf request of the UN, Dr. Ashraf Ghani agreed to withdraw Ghani and Dr Abdullah on Wednesday afternoon about his team. their ongoing negotiations to form such a government.
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His spokesman said the prime minister urged both to continue to work through the process set out by US Secretary of State John Kerry and to form a unity government as quickly as possible. He emphasised the enormous prize at stake for the Afghan people - to secure their democratic future - and that he hoped the process could be completed by the NATO summit. The Wales summit represented an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in Afghanistan over the last 10 years and to look at how NATO allies could work with the new government, he said. Separately, US Special Representative Dan Feldman met Sort out rifts and move ahead, candidates told the candidates and other key stakeholders in Kabul, By Mahbob Shah Mahbob Aug 28, 2014 - 15:43 including the UNAMA head Jan Kubis. JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Powerful tribal leader Haji Din Feldman reiterated the need to conclude the electoral Mohammad on Thursday urged the presidential candidates process in a timely way that honoured the millions of to put aside their differences to end the electoral crisis, votes cast by the Afghan people and provides the saying Afghanistan was passing through a critical juncture. legitimacy for a government of national unity. In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Din Mohammad said the prolonged crisis threatened the country’s security and economic situation. He warned the candidates would be held responsible if the situation worsened further. Din Mohammad, who supports Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, urged the presidential runners should work together for the country’s development and prosperity instead wasting time on trivial issues. The former Nangarhar governor called for a homegrown solution to the political crisis, saying he had doubts about the international community’s sincerity. He also came hard on the media for exaggerating the situation. Also member of the Change and Continuity team, he said he saw a stable and peaceful Afghanistan in future and hoped the current deadlock would be over soon. Don’t test people’s patience, Abdullah asked He said their team was committed to ensuring the By Sahil Mangal Aug 28, 2014 - 14:55 supremacy of law and preventing illegal activities. “Dr. GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Governor of southeastern Paktia Sahib (Ghani) has said those involved in illegal practices province Juma Khan Hamdard on Thursday warned the will be unable to continue their activities and will be Reform and Unanimity team against testing the masses’ brought to justice...” Mohammad, who fought against the patience with inordinate demands. Communist Red Army during the Soviet invasion of Af- “Dr. Abdullah is negotiating a deal on a government of ghanistan, supported the idea of a national unity govern- unity on the one hand and trying to declare a parallel ment, which would ensure meritocracy. Din Mohammad government on the other,” he said at a security meeting in said members of the new government would work together Gardez, the provincial capital. in the larger interest of the country and anyone opposed to A day earlier, Abdullah threatened with a boycott of the its policies would join the political opposition. “The matter ongoing audit if his technical demands were not meet. is very clear; the victor and the loser will have their own Fazal Ahmad Manawi, his team member, alleged the posts with due powers and privileges. We all will become invalidation process had been hijacked politically. one group in a government of national unity,” he main- Hamdard, supporting the Change and Continuity team in tained. About Pakistani attacks into neighbouring Kunar the June 14 runoff, criticised the government and the province, the former jihadi leader claimed the incursions international community for their silence on the demands were aimed at creating hurdles to concluding the electoral of Ashraf Ghani’s camp. process.
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Parwan residents pin many hopes on new president By Farid Tanha Aug 29, 2014 - 12:22 CHARIKAR (Pajhwok): Residents of central Parwan province on Friday urged the next president to focus on delivering security and justice, as well as development of the education sector. They also called for the incoming head of state to pay due heed to boosting the local economy, eliminate graft from provincial government departments and bringing the corrupt to justice. As a result of the prolonged presidential election process, Next president asked to bolster security Afghanistan's economic and security challenges have By Habibur Rahman Sherzai Aug 28, 2014 - 17:43 multiplied. Subsequently, concerns among people are mounting. PUL-I-KHUMRY (Pajhwok): The residents of northern Parwan dwellers hope with the culmination of the election Baghlan province on Thursday urged new president process, the next president will be sworn in as part of the should help eliminate foreign meddling in country’s first peaceful democratic transfer of power in the country’s affairs and bolster security and law and order. history. The first round of the presidential election was held on The incoming leader would take effective measures to April 5 and the runoff on June 14, but the process is yet to resolve people's problems and grapple successfully with the be finalised, causing economic problems and insecurity in challenges facing Afghanistan. the country. Syed Rasul Hofyani, a student of the Journalism Faculty at People urged the next head of state to tackle problems the University of Parwan, told Pajhwok Afghan News: being faced by masses and put the country on path to "May message to the future president is: homeland security, development, prosperity and stability. justice and war on corruption.” Abdul Samad, 50, from Tala Barfak district of Baghlan, He also suggested strict adherence to merit and an end to said: “I hope the new president will implement law on warlordism for putting Afghanistan on the road to lasting everyone living in the country.” peace and political stability. Coming from Hofyan village, He suggested individuals working in judiciary with poor the student stressed the long-suffering masses richly performance should be replaced with eligible judges to deserved relief. tackle administrative graft. Another resident of Jabalus Saraj district, Ahmad Bilal, Hamid, a resident of Nahrin district said the new leader asked the new head of state that the economy needed should introduce reforms in administrative system. “The immediate attention. The 40-year-old peasant said: "The new leader should resolve our problems we are facing president should consider our economic woes and alleviate from Pakistan. We will not achieve peace if we have not our poverty.” resolved our problems with our neighbours,” said He urged the new leader to address the issues of injustice Mohammad Sarwar, a resident of Dahan-i-Ghori district. and backwardness besides taking deterrent action against those involved in graft. “We hope he will realise and Another resident, Shad Mohammad said the next president resolve the farmers’ problems.” should pay greater attention to education sector and sack Imam Jan from the Bayazid area of Bagram district said: the teachers posted by warlords and MPs on nepotism and "The new president will have to provide security, justice favoritism basis. and education besides developing agriculture. If he takes into account the wellbeing of all people, his administration Nasreen, 35, a resident of Baghlan-i-Markazi district, will encounter no problems.” Hailing from Siahgird district, urged the new president should seriously resolve issues Qand Agha underlined the need for beefing up security. A confronting by women folk. driver by profession, the 30-year-old said the people were really fed up with decades of war and mayhem. Insecurity The next president, she observed should abolish the sys- in different parts of the country had been taking a heavy toll tem of spending heavy money on wedding ceremonies. on education, reconstruction and agriculture, he explained, Najia, a school teacher, said: “The new president should saying they needed protection. Shopkeeper Juma Gul, explore more employment opportunities for women.” belonging to Koh-i-Safi district, hoped: “Our new president will certainly take steps to eradicate poverty from the area we are living in.” http://www.pajhwok.com Page 6 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com
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HR group concerned at electoral impasse By Naveed Ahmad Barakzai Aug 29, 2014 - 19:08
KABUL (Pajhwok): A global human rights group on Friday voiced its concern at the dragging election process, urging both campaigns to help in compilation of results at the earliest in accordance with the law. An official of the European Campaign for Human Rights in Afghanistan (ECHRA) told journalists in Kabul the electoral impasse was impinging on the country’s economic, political, security and social landscapes. Asking the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the two campaigns to expedite the vote audit, Noorul Haq Nasimi alleged: "The government’s interference in affairs of the electoral institutions has led to the current confusion in the country." Protracted poll process hits fuel trade "If the government and decision makers don’t respect the By Zabihullah Ehsas Aug 29, 2014 - 14:57 popular vote and protect the interest of certain individuals or teams, the nascent Afghan institutions will be dealt a MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Businessmen from the severe blow," Nasimi warned. northern zone said on Friday the prolonged election The ECHRA official went on to call for the presidential process had left a deeply negative impact on trade candidates to act according to popular aspirations, respect activities and dealt a severe blow to security. the people's votes and help break the deadlock. Businessmen said the government needed to shift its focus to resolving the problems being encountered by the traders particular those in the fuel business. Arash Younusi, secretary of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce, told Pajhwok Afghan News the current election stalemate had left commerce and trade activities paralysed throughout the country. The government, he complained, had shown no urgency to resolve the problems of the business community and it unilaterally had slapped a ban on edible and non-edible oil imports. He claimed the ban on edible and non-edible oil imports had led to a shortage of the commodity in the country on the one hand and sent prices soaring on the other. But he lauded the Cabinet decision on allowing 50 to 80 percent oil imports. He, however, raised objections to the HIA wants early election results tax on oil imports. By Abaseen Zaheer Aug 30, 2014 - 16:18 Muhammad Yousuf Ghazanfar, head of the Ghazanfar Company, called for early election results to prevent KABUL (Pajhwok): The Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) further losses. He wanted the government to take the urged the Independent Election Commission (IEC) on business community into confidence on the current Saturday to ensure timely announcement of the final results situation. in collaboration with the United Nations (UN). Younusi believed an informal visit of northern zone The HIA held its conference in Kabul in which 3,000 businessmen to Turkmenistan would produce a positive people participated. Qazi Muhammad Amin Qaqad, outcome for Afghanistan. He recalled the country had president of HIA’s alliance, told the gathering that Afghans $550 million trade with Turkmenistan during the last six thronged to the polling stations and expressed greater months. enthusiasm by casting vote in the national process. In bilateral trade with Turkmenistan, oil and construction He however, lamented over the delay in the announce- materials are imported and fresh fruits and vegetables ment of results, which created uncertainty and chaos exported. among people.
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He underlined the need that the IEC should made experts supervising the process. It said that the meeting was public the ballots results before the NATO Summit also attended by James. B. Cunningham, ambassador of the scheduled to be held in Wales next month. US to Afghanistan The HICA backed Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in the runoff presidential elections held on June 14. “Both candidates must cooperate to ensure early conclusion of the polls’ results,” he said, threatening to launch nation-wide protests if the results were not announced on schedule. Ahmadzai team registers 15 complaints: IECC By Khwaja Baser Ahmad Aug 30, 2014 - 16:20 KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Election Complaint Commission (IECC) on Saturday said fifteen complaints were registered by the Change and Continuity team against the invalidation of votes from 75 polling sites. Kandaharis spell out demands on next president Five days ago, the Independent Election Commission By Bashir Ahmad Naadim Aug 31, 2014 - 17:43 (IEC) invalided votes from 75 polling sites, and 69 sites a day earlier. KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of southern At a news conference in Kabul, the IECC spokesman Kandahar province say they want the next president to Nadir Mohsini said Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai camp had improve security, electricity, extend government’s writ to lodged 15 complaints against the invalidating ballots from remote areas, eliminate corruption, improve education, 75 polling sites. economy and ensure honourable return of Afghan refugees. He said the Reforms and Unanimity team, led by Dr. The dragging electoral process has disappointed most Abdullah Abdullah would yet file any complaint, saying Afghans, including Kandaharis, but they still hope the that IECC was duty bound to assess complaints as per the process would complete and the next president would be law. inaugurated soon. The complaints would be reviewed at a public hearing Kandahar residents say their foremost demand from the before noon on Sunday, Mohsini said, urging the IEC and new president is improved security. Change and Continuity team to send their representatives. A resident of Nahr Karez area of Panjwai district, Abdur The commission would receive complaints until 5:00pm Rahman, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “We suffered from today’s but he gave no further details. decades of war and violence, in which we lost our family The IECC spokesperson said amongst the 72 sites, ballots members and got destroyed our gardens and farms, and of two sites were validated after assessment of the currently we live in fear due to landmines in our areas. All complaints. these are intolerable and the next president must do He said the IEC could file appeals within 24 hours, if they something to end all these misfortunes.” have objections against IECC decision. He said everything would be fine if the security situation He urged the election commission to post results of was improved because there would be no hurdles to the invalidated ballots at its webpage as soon as possible. government and people carrying out their routine activities. A resident of Kandahar City, Syed Jan, urged the next head Kubis updates candidates on progress of the state to provide electricity to citizens, saying officials By Javid Hamim Kakar Aug 30, 2014 - 18:15 had failed to honour their promises in this regard over the KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations Special past 13 years. Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan “My demand from the next president is that he should held meetings with presidential candidates, Dr. Abdullah provide us electricity. Officials in the last 13 years have Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and briefed repeatedly promised to electrify our homes but they did them on auditing process.A statement from the UNAMA nothing,” the 36-year-old said. said that Ján Kubiš, briefed presidential hopefuls on the Haji Mohammad Nasar, a dweller of Ghorak district, progress of the 14 June presidential runoff election audit demanded the next president extend the government’s writ based on information of the Independent Election and services to remote areas so that people’s trust in the Commission (IEC) and the United Nations . government could be strengthened.
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“People in remote parts and districts are out of He praised the retiring president for his contribution to en- government’s coverage and deprived of basic facilities of suring a smooth power transfer from one democratically life including security, healthcare, telecommunications elected government to another. and others,” he said, adding that if the next government President Spokesman Aimal Faizi has made it clear that wanted to win the hearts and minds the people he should President Karzai would remain in office until his successor provide them with these facilities. was sworn-in. Haji Mohammad Sarwar, a dweller of Sarkari Bagh area of Arghandab district, said agriculture remained the key source of income for residents and the next should put modernize the agriculture sector and find market for fruits such as grapes, pomegranates, watermelons, fig and others produced in Kandahar. Sarwar added currently these products were sold at throwaway prices or decayed due to lack of storage facilities. A resident of Dand district, Bismillah, who has one of his legs disabled disable, urged the upcoming president to fight corruption and appoint people in government offices on merit. The 45-year-old said most government departments were rife with corruption and people who had connections in the government or were powerful were able to find government jobs. A resident of Kandahar City, Sana, asked the next president to improve the quality of education and help Ghoris want next president to disarm illegal groups women get their rights and job opportunities. She added the war and violence had rendered a large number of women widows and children orphans and many FIROZKOH (Pajhwok): Residents of western Ghor educated women could not find jobs. province say the next president should appoint qualified Haji Abdul Basir, another dweller of Kandahar City, said individuals on government posts and disarm illegal armed violence in the country forced many Afghans migrate to groups and implement reconstruction projects in the Pakistan, where they were trained to work against province.The prolonged electoral process has pushed Afghanistan. Afghanistan into economic, security and other He asked the new president to pave the ground for a problems.The people of Ghor asked the election bodies to dignified return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and complete the vote audit process at the earliest so that the other countries, a move, he believed would decrease new president could be inaugurated. interferences of other countries in Afghanistan. A provincial council member, Maulvi Ramazan Qasimi, asked the next president to give some government positions Karzai urged to stay until his successor takes oath to Ghor residents so that they could work for the wellbeing By Abasin Zaheer Aug 31, 2014 - 17:53 of the province and share their problems with the central government. KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral Com- He said no one from Ghor had been given a senior plaints Commission (IECC) chief on Sunday urged Presi- government post over the past 13 years. dent Hamid Karzai not to leave office until his successor “No one from Ghor was appointed as minister or even was sworn-in. deputy minister or ambassador that is why no one paid Earlier, President Karzai has stressed the new president attention to our problems,” Qasimi said. should take oath by September 2. Disarming irresponsible individuals was another demand But later the UN top diplomat in Kabul, Jan Ku- Ghor residents made on the next president. bis, informed the president that the vote audit could not Mohammad Sarwar, a dweller of Tolak area, said illegal be completed until September 11. armed individuals had long been creating problems for Addressing a press conference in Kabul, Abdul Sattar Sa- locals and they should be disarmed and punished for their dat said if President Karzai left office before his successor crimes. was administered oath then it would amount to violation Also a policeman, Sarwar said: “The next president should of the Constitution. improve the capacity of security forces and increase their
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Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter salaries and Taliban prisoners should not be released Abdul Ghani, a resident of Katawaz locality, said law and because they make a beeline to the battlefield and kill order would remain a challenging task for the upcoming nnocent people.” president. The next head of the state should adopt measures Local officials say 6,500 illegal armed men and 3,500 to stabilize security on highways and establish peace militants have been operating in different parts of the throughout the country. province. He claimed several incidents of terror had taken place on Ghor is a mountainous province and has impassable the vital road leading to Khushamad district, with rebels routes. Its residents asked the next president to build roads had been attacking security forces and civilians. and transportation system. Mohammad Alim, another resident of Sharan City, the Abdul Qadir Ghafoori, 28, a resident of Dolina district, provincial capital, said the next president should pay atten- said, “Lack of transport facilities adds to the economic tion to bolster economic condition of masses by developing woes of Ghor residents. Ghor remains buried in snow for the vital agriculture sector in the province. six months a year, our only demand from our next He said majority of Paktika people were associated with president is to construct the Ghor-Kabul and Ghor-Herat agriculture sector and the construction of dames and highways.” culverts were of immense importance for economic He said Ghor lacked electricity despite the fact three rivers development. --- Murghab, Harirod and Farah Rod --- passed through Bara Khan Takra, head of Paktika education society, the province. underlined improvement in quality education and Farmers said they needed facilities to improve works. strengthening of vocational training programs especially Abdul Samad, 40, a resident of Dolina district, said: “The among women. government does not help us, we ask the next president to build water dams for us.” A resident of Tiora district, Farida, said most girls in Ghor lacked access to education, particularly higher education. She asked the next leader to pay greater attention to solving problems facing women and provide them with education facilities.
Zakhilwal briefs candidates on economy By Pajhwok Report Sep 1, 2014 - 17:47 KABUL (Pajhwok): Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal on Monday briefed presidential contenders Dr. Next leader should bolster securityin Paktika Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on the By Ali Mohammad Nazari Sep 1, 2014 - 15:21 country's economic situation. A statement from the Ministry of Finance said Zakhilwal SHARAN (Pajhwok): The residents of southeastern accompanied by other ministry officials briefed the two Paktika province urged the new president to help bolster candidates on the current fiscal and macroeconomic peace and stability, overcome the menace of corruption situation and discussed the negative impact the protracted and adopt measures to develop the vital education sector election process had on the country’s economy. in Afghanistan. During the meetings, they also updated both the runners on Zalmai Kharotai, a student of law faculty, told Pajhwok Afghanistan’s medium term development strategy, Afghan News the next president should focus to establish including the trend and role of development aid, importance durable peace and treat all provinces equally in sharing of of delivery on key reforms, regional cooperation and trade development schemes. potentials.
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Views of both candidates were sought on these areas as He said the Ghani campaign was behaving as if they had well as their expectations from the next phase of won the election and were trying to water down the engagement with the international community on the power -sharing arrangement the two leaders signed during economic development agenda including preparation for US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit last the upcoming London Conference, the statement added. month. Mohaqeq said Ghani viewed the chief executive Regarding the current fiscal situation, the statement said, role as nothing more than a symbolic position. Zakhilwal presented a plan that ensured that the Sanchakari said Abdullah’s team believed the national unity government avoided a further cash crunch and was able to government could be formed only when the vote audit was meet its important financial responsibilities including the processed in a transparent manner before announcing the government salaries of the civil servants, delivery of key final result. pubic services and uninterrupted funding of critical He said they would not accept the results if the audit ongoing development projects. continued the way it was being carried out. It added that each candidate nominated representatives He said they sincerely joined the vote audit and discussions from their respective teams to continue to work with the on the national unity government with the rival team, but ministry and the donor community to resolve the current they were cheated in both the cases, something he said was fiscal situation and to prepare for the upcoming London intolerable to them anymore. Conference in November. “We have set a deadline for tomorrow, if our logical demands are not paid attention, and the audit process continues in the same manner, we will boycott both the political and audit processes,” Snacharaki warned. He said Abdullah’s team was loyal to a transparent vote audit to defend people’s rights. “We will form a national unity government with those having won real votes, not with those involved in fraud and telling lies, because it will amount to betraying the Afghans,” he added. Sancharaki said if their demands were not listened to, they would make a strong decision and will go to the people to take a decision on their own. He called those involved in fraud the main reason of the current economic and security problems which had recently increased in the country. The warning from Abdullah’s camp comes as the vote audit Abdullah’s new warning puts elections in peril enters its final stage. By Nasir Ahmad Siddiqui Sep 1, 2014 - 17:49 The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said that the recount process would be final in a few days and the final KABUL (Pajhwok): The Reform and Unanimity team, led result would be announced shortly. by presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, on IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor on Sunday said Monday warned it would withdraw from the political more than 86 percent of all 23,000 votes had been audited process if its demands were not met by Tuesday. so far.
A spokesman for the Abdullah campaign, Fazal Prolonged electoral process irks masses Sanchakari, told reporters in Kabul that they were running By Mohammad Humayoon Zaheen Sep 2, 2014 - 15:02 out of patience and gave a deadline until tomorrow. FARAH CIY (Pajhwok): The month’s long electoral crisis Meanwhile, one of Abdullah’s running mates Mohammad has left negative impact on every field of life and Mohaqeq told a foreign news agency that the Abdullah discouraged masses to extend that the people of western campaign would go to the people and let them decide on a Farah province said did not believe anymore on the election further course of action if Ashraf Ghani was declared phenomenon. winner. "Announcing the results based on fraudulent “We hate hearing election related news and stories means endangers the whole process and takes the country anymore,” they added. It merits mention that the deeper into crisis. It is in no one's interest. It will divide presidential election went to second round when none of the Afghanistan," he said. contestant gained 50+1 votes in the April 5 vote.
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In the second round of ballot, the Change and Continuity “It seems neither our international friends nor national team grabbed majority of votes and subsequently declared institutions are honest,” Noor wrote. He said despite clear winner by the Independent Election Commission (IEC). evidence of “industrial-scale fraud,” the international However the Reforms and Continuity team, led by Dr. observers overlooked the irregularities and their legitimate Abdullah Abdullah, did not accept the result and demands were deliberately ignored. threatened to create a parallel government. The 49-year-old Noor called upon his supporters to prepare The issue was then resolved following mediation by John for a grand movement. Kerry, the US sectary of State, with both teams agreed to The political crisis deepens ahead of a crucial NATO audit of all votes and forming a unity government. summit in Wales on Afghanistan to discuss future civilian Javed Tabish, a civil society activist, said delay in election and military aid to the country after 13 years of fighting result was threatening security and economy of the against resurgent Taliban. country. He added the IEC was unable to manage things, which led to meddling by foreign organization in the Good governance tops Balkh residents demands election affairs. By Zabihullah Ihsas Sep 2, 2014 - 15:49 MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Residents of northern Balkh province say their foremost demand from the next president is good governance. Dealing with illegal armed groups, doing away with administrative corruption, extending development activities to remote areas and promoting education and agriculture sectors are other demands of Balkh residents from the next president. Like residents of other provinces, Balkh dwellers say they are tired of the dragging electoral process, but hope the I mpasse would end soon and Afghanistan would have a new leader to respond to public demands. They say their first and foremost demand from the new leader is good governance on provincial levels. A resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, and political science student at Balkh University, Mohammad Noor gives call for protests as results loom Aziz, told Pajhwok Afghan News there was no doubt By Meer Agha Nasrat Samimi Sep 2, 2014 - 15:23 positive changes had occurred in Balkh during the past KABUL (Pajhwok): The governor of northern Balkh decade, but good governance was yet to be ensured. “Balkh residents are somehow under pressure. It is possible province and a close aide to trailing presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday asked his supporters to some people have become habitual tolerating this pressure but no one can close his eyes towards the fact that prepare themselves for massive protests against looming governance in this province is dictated by a specific group,” election results. Atta Mohammad Noor wrote on his Facebook page that he said. Elaborating his viewpoint, he said most government the election process had lost its legitimacy. He came hard on the government, the United Nations and the officials remained on their seats over the past 13 years. Mohammad Aziz urged the next president to bring about Independent Election Commission (IEC) for what he said drastic changes to the system of governance in provinces. not responding to complaints from the Abdullah’s camp. A day earlier, the Abdullah team warned it would A Nehr -i-Shahi district resident, Mohammad Ali, told Pajhwok Afghan News that all efforts of the new president withdraw from the political process if its demands were not met by Tuesday (today). One of Abdullah's would be futile until he seriously worked to eliminate corruption from government departments. vice-presidential candidates, Mohammad Mohaqeq, told a The 53-year-old said: “I only talk about corruption in small foreign news agency that the talks on a unity government government offices, where we are forced to offer bribes on had collapsed. He said rival candidate Ashraf Ghani a daily basis in some Balkh departments.” Ahmadzai gave no importance to the chief executive post more than a symbolic position. He said no one could get his work done at security departments without paying bribe.
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Ali said if the next president wanted to win the hearts of the people, he should resolve their small problems, which turned big with passage of time. Though satisfied with relatively peaceful environment in Balkh, yet the residents demanded the next president vanquish armed groups operating in the name of Taliban. A resident of Nawkhar village in Chamtal district, Haji Mir Gul, said they could not get rid of powerful Individuals during the past 13 years. “We see them changing guise. Sometimes they become Taliban and then supporters of local former commanders. These unknown armed men intimidate us, create problems for us, deprive us of our food and livestock and have turned out lives into a hell,” he complained. He said the next president acting on people’s advice should review security arrangements in provinces. Residents of Shortepa district say they are happy with the Civil society lambasts unity govt idea ongoing development activities in Balkh, but these By Azizullah Hamdard Sep 2, 2014 - 16:18 projects have been confined only to Mazar-i-Sharif. KABUL (Pajhwok): Criticising the lingering electoral A tribal elder in the area, Mohammad Tahir, said the road process, civil society groups on Tuesday said the unity linking the district to the provincial capital remained dirt. government idea was aimed at securing power by elements He said their main demand from the next president was with vested interests. strengthening of the Amu River banks in order to protect Afghanistan Civil Society Association spokesman residences from being washed away. Muhammad Yousaf Amin Zazai told reporters in Kabul that He said the river burst its banks every year, inundating a particular faction had hijacked power over the past 13 dozens of acres of land and affecting routine life. years under the pretext of national unity government. Tahir said if development activities were not extended to “A handful of brokers want to seize power by forming a remote areas, the time was not far when the existing gap unity government. Afghans are fed up with them and will between people and the government would further not tolerate such tactics anymore”, Zazai warned. increase. The association urged the United Nations and the While a farmer in the Charbolak district, Mohammad Independent Election Commission (IEC) to announce Agha, said the next president should resolve problems results from the June presidential runoff election without concerning the agriculture sector. further delay. He owned 20 acres of land but hardly managed to Gen. Zalmai Wardak, a member of the association, said cultivate each year half of the land (10 acres) due to other nations had reached Mars but Afghans had failed to scarcity of irrigation water. resolve a single election issue. Wardak urged presidential He said besides irrigated lands, there were rain-fed lands candidates Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Dr. Abdullah as well and farmers used to wait for rains to bring under Abdullah not to sacrifice national interests for their personal cultivation most of their land. interests. He said if the irrigation problem was resolved in Balkh, it would help increase by multiple times agriculture produc- tion. A resident of Dawlatabad district, Bismillah, who is a government servant in Mazar-i-Sharif, said the next president should give importance to the development of education in remote parts. He said efforts at promoting education remained confined to Mazar-i-Sharif and districts continued to face shortages of teachers and books. Due to these problems, he said, most youth in villages were deprived of education and thus contributing to unemployment ratio in the province. He said such illiterate youngsters often fell into the hands of miscreants who used them for their nefarious designs.
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Rivals ask Abdullah to review boycott decision The IECC addressed the complaints at an open hearing in By Nasir Ahmad Siddiqui Sep 2, 2014 - 17:39 Kabul on Tuesday. A representative of the Change and Continuity team, Abdul Habib Hashmi, told the hearing that KABUL (Pajhwok): The Change and Continuity team, led they filed complaints because the IEC had previously by presidential contender Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, on declared as valid votes from the said polling centres. Tuesday described as “emotional” the rival camp’s But IECC secretary and spokesman Nader Mohseni said decision to withdraw from the political process. their investigation showed the votes of only two polling Faizullah Zaki, a spokesman for Ghani’s campaign, told centres were valid and the rest should be thrown out. reporters that both the candidates had promised in a joint He said the votes were invalidated because some ballot statement they that would remain committed to resolving boxes lacked lists of votes and others lacked lists of voters. issues. Some ballots had similar tick marks and some ballot boxes He called upon the Reforms and Unanimity team to had been stuffed by powerful individuals and others had review its decision of boycotting the audit process and been broken or their locks differed from those provided by talks over the formation of a unity government. the election commission. The Reform and Unanimity team, headed by presidential A day earlier, the IEC announced it finished auditing and candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, on Monday warned to recounting of votes in 20501 ballot boxes until evening and withdraw from the political process if its demands were audit of the remaining 2327 ballot boxes would be not met by Tuesday. completed within a few days. Fazal Sanchakari, a spokesman for Abdullah’s campaign, The commission has so far invalidated votes from 452 told reporters in Kabul that they were running out of polling centres. However, the IECC has so far reinstated patience and gave a deadline until today for the acceptance cancelled votes from eight polling sites. of their demands. He said their logical demands about the vote audit process had been ignored by the Independent Election Commission and the United Nations.
Another 2 sites’ votes reinstated: Watchdog By Khwaja Basir Fitri Sep 2, 2014 - 15:42 KABUL (Pajhwok): The election watchdog on Tuesday said it found as valid votes from another two polling centres out of 69 sites earlier cancelled by the Independent Election Commission (IEC).
The IEC had declared invalid votes from the 69 polling sites three days ago, but the decision was challenged by the Change and Continuity team, lodging 12 complaints with the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) in this regard.
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