Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) Weekly Election Coverage Newsletter, May 21-27
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Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) Weekly Election Coverage Newsletter, May 21-27 Plots being hatched to divide Afghans: Abdullah Massoud pledges support to Ahmadzai By Muhammad Hassan Khetab May 21, 2014 - 19:09 By Azizullah Hamdard May 22, 2014 - 11:18 KABUL (Pajhwok): Frontrunner Dr. Abdullah Abdullah KABUL (Pajhwok): Former vice-president Ahmad Zia on Wednesday warned many plots were being hatched to Massoud on Thursday formally announced support to create differences among the Afghans on ethnic lines, presidential contender Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in the saying such attempts would not be allowed to succeed. second round of the ballot. Addressing a gathering, where the Afghanistan Youth Zia Massoud pledged support to Ahmadzai at a meeting Solidarity Party’s head Jamil Karzai joined his camp, attended by the two leaders and members of the electoral Abdullah said those trying to fuel ethnic divisions among team at the Loya Jirga tent in Kabul. the Afghans would not be able to achieve their goals. A brother of assassinated jihadi hero Ahmad Shah “Many plots are underway; those who want to fuel Massoud, Zia Massoud has been the running mate of regional, tribal and ethnic differences should know that ex-foreign minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul in the April 5 polls. such efforts will not come to fruition in Afghanistan,” the With the process heading to the second round, a number of former foreign minister added. political figures and first- round runners are joining forces He said strong-willed people, who discharged their with the two leading contenders. responsibility by thronging polling stations on April 5, Dr. Rassoul and Gul Agha Sherzai have already announced would again make history on June 14. support for Abdullah. Ahmadzai and Abdullah will contest If elected, Abdullah promised to work honestly to take the second round scheduled for June 14. forward the national reconciliation process, with a clear http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/05/22/massoud-pledges- policy guaranteeing a bright future for Afghans. support-ahmadzai He continued he had shared his views with the electoral 3-week campaign kicks off bodies about reforms and further legalising the electoral By Meer Agha Nasrat Samimi May 21, 2014 - 17:40 process. He is awaiting their response. About Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai’s recent statement, KABUL (Pajhwok): Amid security concerns, three-week Abdullah said: “This is a kind of fun ahead of canvassing for the runoff election between Dr. Abdullah electioneering. I don’t feel any need to prove my Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai began on credentials about Islamic studies and people know what Thursday. In line with the law and the timeline announced the matter is.” Ghani has invited Abdullah to a televise by the panel, the presidential candidates could open their debate on religious studies. campaign from 12 midnight, the Independent Election Jamil Karzai, a relative of President Karzai and a former Commission (IEC) spokesman told reporters in Kabul. Wolesi Jirga member, said they planned joining forces Noor Mohammad Noor hoped both runners would eschew with Abdullah in the runoff, pending an overall evaluation breaking the laws. The campaign will end on June 11 -- 24 of the situation. hours before polling day. http://www.pajhwok.com Page 1 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/www.vote.af Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter Having 16 chapters and 80 articles, the Electoral Law was endorsed by President Hamid Karzai on July 20 after its approval by parliament. Also in today’s meeting, the lawmakers had urged government to take practical measures against cross-border attacks from Pakistani troops. If the government was unable to resolve the problem, people should be allowed to defend their motherland. Second Deputy Speaker Mohammad Saleh Saljooqi said the government should bring clarity to its foreign policy and address the challenges and problems facing the country. Wolesi Jirga ponders amendment to Election Law By Abasin Zaheer May 21, 2014 - 16:36 KABUL (Pajhwok): Lawmakers on Wednesday suggested two conditions, including graduation, for Wolesi Jirga (lower house) candidates should be added to the Election Law. They proposed a Wolesi Jirga runner should either be a graduate or a member of the house for one term -- five years. Fifteen legislators demanded the addition of one sentence to Article 14 of the law. Deputy Speaker Siddique Ahmad Osmani, who chaired the session, said they would consider the suggestion Pakistan trying to scuttle run-off: NDS regarding the additional conditions for candidates. By Azizullah Hamdard May 21, 2014 - 17:39 Article 14 of the Election Law says a person who runs for or is appointed as a member of the National Assembly, KABUL (Pajhwok): The National Directorate of Security shall be an Afghan citizen or shall have ob- (NDS) deputy chief on Wednesday alleged Pakistan was tained the citizenship of Afghanistan at least 10 years trying to sabotage the run-off election due on June 14. before the day of candidacy. Gen. Hasamuddin Hassam levelled the allegation at a The candidate should not have been convicted of crimes meeting which was attended by officials of the Independent against humanity and felony or deprived of civil rights by Election Commission (IEC), Ministry of Interior (MoI) and court. He/she should be 25 years old on the day of Ministry of Defence (MoD). candidacy. Gen. Hassam said Pakistan wanted to harass the ordinary But a public representative from central Parwan province, Afghans by firing volleys of rockets and missiles into Abdul Sattar Khawasi, said the Wolesi Jirga could not Afghanistan and aiding militant activities ahead of the amend the law in the last year of its tenure. crucial vote. Article 109 of the Constitution says: “Proposals for Minister of Interior Omar Daudzai voiced his concern over amendments to the electoral law cannot be included in the cross-border incursions by Pakistani forces. He said agenda of the assembly during the last year of the legisla- Pakistan recently fired rockets into Paktika, Kunar and tive period.” Khost provinces. The last year of the Wolesi Jirga’s term will commence on June 22. Osmani said they had one month’s time to IEC Chairman Mohammad Yousaf Nuristan asked security debate amendments to the law. forces to ensure their neutrality in the election process. The Finally, lawmakers agreed on including the issue in the panel had taken steps to prevent the mistakes committed in agenda for the next session. It would be debated at the the first round of elections. commission level and recommendations would be http://www.pajhwok.com/en/ 2014/05/21/pakistan-trying- presented to the general session, Osmani said. scuttle-run-nds http://www.pajhwok.com Page 2 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter Fire fraud-tainted staff, IEC offices told despite challenges. But holding the runoff vote would be By Pajhwok reporter May 21, 2014 - 18:37 more challenging, he added. An ex-ambassador, Daudzai said armed rebels went to their KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Election hideouts across the border in the winter. Trained and Commission (IEC) on Wednesday asked its provincial equipped there, they returned in the summer season. The heads to fire the workers who failed to maintain neutrality Taliban’s anti-government operations have escalated with during the first round of presidential elections on April 5. the approach of the spring. IEC heads from all 34 provinces attended the first day of a He acknowledged: “Rebel attacks have increased, as many two-day workshop that began at the commission’s foreign fighters have infiltrated into the country to disrupt headquarters in Kabul. the election process. But people should know that they Secretary Ziaul Haq Amarkhel told the provincial chiefs to (insurgents) cannot sabotage the process.” appoint impartial people to their offices and replace those Daudzai added people intended to elect their next president who had committed irregularities in the previous round. by demonstrating their interest in the form of a massive The workshop is aimed at preventing reoccurrence of turnout in the first round of polls, with security forces mistakes and shortcomings during the runoff presidential warding off insurgent threats. race due on June 14. The minister said provincial officials had pledged not to Amarkhel said some powerful individuals, local warlords spare any effort to ensure security and foil fraud attempts. and illegal armed group commanders had interfered in the Weaknesses and strengths of security forces, especially April 5 elections and some impartial IEC workers had police, came up for discussion at a recent meeting, he sided with candidates. recalled. Keeping in view the past mistakes and experience, he said, According to Daudzai, 748 polling centres remained closed they would not let those things recur, asking provincial in the previous polls and 205 more centres had been added IEC chiefs to strengthen cooperation and coordination to the list on election day. Most of closed sites had weather with local officials, civil society representatives and and security problems. international observers. A joint security team would start its assessment next week Amarkhel said the April 5 presidential and provincial to ascertain how many polling centres would open on the council elections were a great achievement in the face of voting day, he explained. so many challenges. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/05/22/runoff-will-be- http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/05/21/fire-fraud-tainted more-challenging-daudzai -staff-iec-offices-told Abdullah ready for televised debate with Ghani By Khawaja Basir fitri May 22, 2014 - 18:41 KABUL (Pajhwok): Embarking on his runoff election campaign, frontrunner Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Thursday said he was ready for a televised debate with his main challenger Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. Ahmadzai, who finished second in the first round of presidential elections, has invited Abdullah to a televised debate on their future programmes and Islamic knowledge.Abdullah told his maiden campaign rally in Kabul that debate was part of electioneering and he was ready to participate in a debate to be aired by multiple media outlets.