KABUL (Pajhwok): Some unsuccessful Wolesi Jirga candidates from capital Kabul on Wednesday warned of widespread protesta if their demands concerning the initial election results were not addressed.
They welcomed the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission’s (IECC) earlier decision of invalidating all Kabul votes.
More than 30 Wolesi Jirga candidates, affiliated to the Harakat-i-Islami Political Party, addressed a joint press conference in Kabul and termed the parliamentary elections as ‘fraud’.
They accused the Independent Election Commission (IEC) in Kabul and other provinces of receiving bribe in return for facilitating the victory of specific individuals.
Mualvi Abdul Hakim Munib, head of the Harakat-i- Enqelab Islami, termed the Oct elections in Kabul as ‘rigged’ and accused IEC personnel of receiving bribe to ensure certain candidates paved their way to the preliminary list.
“Now we will go to the IECC and if they did not hear our complaints, we will launch our civil movement to make our voices heard,” he said.
Attaullah Faizani, spokesman for the Harakat-i-Enqelab Islami, said they had provided their suggestions to the IEC before the conduct of election to strengthen their administration.
He said their suggestions were ignored, which resulted in crisis and other issues after the announcement of results.
Yasmin Sarwar, a protesting candidate, said: “Unfortunately, those who offered money and have power were able to succeed.”
She said they would wait until the IECC proceedings of addressing complaints were over and if justice was not delivered, they would launch a protest movement.
The Harakat members asked the government to arrest those who committed fraud in the elections and refer them to judicial organs.