Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) Weekly Election Coverage Newsletter, April 23-29 Vote recounting process in Balkh completed By ‌Zabihullah‌Ihsas Apr 23, 2014 - 14:23 MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Wednesday said recount process of the April 5 election votes in northern Balkh province completed while the votes of three ballot boxes invalidated. Provincial IECC chief Mohammad Anabi told Pajhwok Afghan News the recounting process of votes in 27 polling centres was started last week which had been completed. He said 16 of the polling centres were quarantined in the wake of complaints while 11 others were ordered by the IECC main office to be quarantined for review. Most of the quarantined ballot boxes were from UNAMA lauds efforts at vote transparency Mazar-I-Sharif, the provincial capital and Zaree, Chamtal By Pajhwok‌Report Apr 23, 2014 - 13:56 and Charbolak districts of the province. The ballot boxes have recounted due to technical problems but there was KABUL (Pajhwok):The UN Assistance Mission in less chance of invalidating them. Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Wednesday it was encouraged “Some of the boxes did not had result sheets while some of by steps taken by the two Afghan national electoral them had their seals broken. Some other ballot boxes had institutions to continuously increase transparency around lack of stamps,” he said, adding the reviewed report of the the counting of votes. “The Afghan electoral institutions ballot boxes have sent to the main office for final decision. should be commended for their efforts to make the Ballot boxes of those centers have cancelled where the electoral process more transparent than ever before," voting process was continued when the official time was said Ján Kubiš, Secretary-General’s Special expired, he concluded. Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA. "Openness and a willingness to have observers, candidate Paktika officials ready for second election round agents and other parties to scrutinise the process at every By Ali‌Muhammad‌Nazari‌Apr 23, 2014 - 16:12 step are of critical importance,” he said, calling constant SHARAN (Pajhwok): Local officials in southeastern communication with candidates and the public another Paktika province said on Wednesday they were fully ready essential requirement. Kubiš expressed these views while if the election headed for the second round. speaking after a meeting of the Chairs of the Independent In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Election Commission (IEC) and the Independent Electoral Paktika police chief, Maj. Gen. Nabi Jan Mulakhel, said Complaints Commission (IECC) with the diplomatic the April, 5 presidential and provincial council polls were community in Kabul. held in a peaceful environment in Paktika, with all polling The heads of diplomatic missions expressed their centres opened. commitment to respecting Afghan ownership of the Afghan forces played leading role to ensure security on electoral process, appreciation of the electoral institutions Election Day, but the role of Afghan Local Police (ALP) work to date and pledged their continuous support. was of great importance and commendable, he added. "I am encouraged by the electoral institutions’ resolve to Mulakhel said security was excellent which was followed closely coordinate their work to ensure that all complaints by massive turnout in Sharan City, including all districts are addressed and adjudicated according to Afghan laws.” because of the deployment of local police force. The UN diplomat said the vote must be duly audited and “Local police are deployed to almost all districts excluding the integrity of the electoral process must be safeguarded. Gomal, Gayan, Zherok and Yousuf Khel areas,” he added. They have put in place strict security measures for the http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/04/23/unama-lauds- elections if the ballot headed for runoff, he informed. efforts-vote-transparency Muhammad Akram, a resident of Sharan City, said all eligible voters thronged to the polling centres to exercise http://www.pajhwok.com Page 1 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/www.vote.af Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter their vote right during the April, 5 election. expose individuals having committed fraud and declare He added due to insecurity in the past polls, people did not invalid fraudulent votes without any hesitation. participate in the elections. In a reference to the 100,000 votes thrown out in western Bahawal Katawazai, a resident of Yahyakhel district, said Herat province, the statement said electoral complaints residents of his town took active part in the polls. commission officials should continue their job and name those creating hurdles in their way. “We call on the electoral bodies to stay impartial in their job because the fate of Afghans’ vote is in their hand. The Afghans will support every honest decision by the electoral bodies.” They also asked the government to avoid any kind of meddling in the electoral process in a mark of respect to the law. They said the government should help the electoral bodies monitor, detect and punish elements involved in irregularities and prevent such people from putting pressure on the commissions. They warned if the elections were spoiled or discredited, the government and the electoral bodies would be responsible for that. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/04/23/balance-poll- results-provinces-stressed Balance in poll results from provinces stressed By Mohammad‌Halim‌Karimi Apr 23, 2014 - 19:03 KABUL (Pajhwok): As a planned full results from the April elections were delayed until Saturday, civil society activists and members of tribal councils on Wednesday asked the two electoral bodies to maintain a balance among provinces with regard to releasing partial returns. They told a press conference in Kabul that the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) should announce unambiguous results by discarding bogus votes. Presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and the Wolesi‌ Jirga had also called on the electoral bodies to 14 media outlets fined for law violation separate fraudulent votes from fake ones before releasing By Muhammad‌Hasan‌Khitab Apr 23, 2014 - 19:08 further results. Representatives of civil society groups and tribal councils KABUL (Pajhwok): The media commission of the asked the electoral institutions to consider a balance in Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Wednesday results from provinces. fined 13 television channels and a radio network for They issued a statement, which accused the IEC of not violation of laws during election campaign, an official taking into account a balance and fairness in results from said. provinces. The electronic media outlets were fined for coverage of It said the IEC had failed in some instances to provide a campaigns of five presidential contenders after they proper explanation that how did it declared votes as valid unleashed election activities’ coverage three days ahead of and incorporated clean ones in partial results. the polls--- the duration coming in the violation period, The statement called on the IEC to explain to the masses said, Hashmatullah Radfar, deputy head of the media how it separated fraudulent votes from valid ones and do commission. more to ensure the vote count process had been transparent Rahi Farda, Arzo, Afghan and Dawat channels were fined and the results far from being dubious. 50,000 afghanis each while Aina 75,000, Saba 60,000, It also called for timely action to decide and make clear the Nigah and Jwandoon 35,000, Mehar 20,000, Nurin, Sham- fate of quarantined ballot boxes, asking the IECC to shad and Radio Nawa fined 10,000 afghanis respectively. http://www.pajhwok.com Page 2 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter Radfar said fines levied on the channels for covering He said the results should be announced as per schedule election activities of presidential runners, including Abdul because a delay in releasing the outcome could erode Rab Rassoul Sayyaf, Dr. Zalmai Rasoul, Dr. Ashraf Ghani people’s trust on the election process and the election Ahmadzai, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Gul Agha Sherzai commission. during campaign. “For the sake of transparency in the election process, the Farida Nikzad, head of the media commission, however, Wolesi Jirga is sending a letter to the election commission lauded the role of other media outlets for staying neutral to call for the results to be declared as schedule,” Ibrahimi during the election campaign. said. She praised Pajhwok Afghan News for its neutrality and Lawmaker Bashir Ahmad Tayanj said the people were provided masses with continuous updates of the ballot by impatiently waiting for the results and the election presenting special reports. commission should announce them on time. Pajhwok Afghan News deserved to be appreciated for “The commission has delayed the preliminary results for launching “Afghans Vote” which helped readers provided a undeclared reasons, a decision that shows the electoral range of news on the entire election process, she added. body is under pressure from an outside force,” he In addition, she praised Tolo, Tolo News, One TV, suspected. Khurshid and Kabul News channels for demonstrating His colleague from Takhar province Qutratullah Zaki said impartiality to cover the ballot process. the results should be fair and acceptable because the http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/04/23/14-media-outlets- Afghans had risked their lives by partaking in the fined-law-violation elections. He cautioned if the election commission tried to pave the way for a presidential candidate to emerge winner through fraud, it would be held responsible for any bad consequences. Similar views were expressed by other lawmakers. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/04/23/mps-want-final- results-stipulated-time Sayyaf to conditionally back future govt By Azizullah‌Hamdard Apr 23, 2014 - 20:16 KABUL (Pajhwok): Trailing presidential candidate Abul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf on Wednesday said they wanted a future government that was in the interest of Islam and MPs want final results in stipulated time Afghanistan and could bring about peace and stability.