MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) chief for northern Balkh province on Monday confirmed receiving 48 objections about fraud and other irregularities during Saturday’s runoff polls.
IECC official Dad Mohammad Anabi told Pajhwok Afghan News that 42 objections had been made over the telephone and the remaining six submitted in writing. Most of the complaints are about irregularities in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Powerful individuals have been accused of interference by some of the complainants. But Anabi did not name the powerful individual who interfered in the electoral process.
He said the complaints were about shortage of election officials at some polling centres and counting invalid votes as valid ones by election officials in some cases. Most of such incidents occurred in Mazar-i-Sharif, he said.
About complaints pouring in from districts, the official said most of them were against powerful individuals.
He said a complaint had been registered in Koshanda district, where a powerful individual allegedly stuffed ballot boxes by force at a polling centre at 12pm.
Residents of Mazar-i-Sharif also say incidents of fraud occurred at various polling centres in connivance with election officials.
A resident of Municipality area, Tooryalai, said he saw an election worker convincing and guiding people into voting for a particular candidate.
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