KABUL (Pajhwok): Some Wolesi Jirga members on Saturday claimed the arrest of Obaidullah Niyazi, the operational director of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) personnel over alleged bribery.
Mirbat Khan Mangal, a lawmaker from Khost province, during Wolesi Jirga session claimed his arrest and stressed over his detention.
“Niyazi knocked every door and demanded money from Wolesi Jirga candidates to ensure their success now his friends had been striving to release him,” he said.
Mangal claimed he had enough evidence to prove that Niyazi took money from some candidates including some from Khost to support them with fraud votes.
Saleh Mohammad Saleh, a lawmaker from Kunar province, acknowledged that Niyazi had been arrested by the NDS personnel.
He said individuals who offered bribe to Niyazi for election rigging should be identified and punished.
He termed the Wolesi Jirga election full of fraud and asked the IEC to separate transparent votes from fraudulent votes.
Amir Khan Yar, second deputy speaker, termed the arrest of Niyazi a positive move in fight against corruption and asked the NDS to ignore all type of pressures and not let Niyazi to be released.
Zabihullah Sadaat, deputy IEC spokesman, said he was unaware of Niyazi’s arrest and added the commission would declare its position till the end of the day in this regard.
A reliable source in the NDS also declined to confirm Niyazi’s arrest and added the oganisation would release a press statement if any arrest had been made.