GARDEZ (Pajhwok): The appellate court officials in southeastern Paktia province on Monday said they had not received the cases of Wolesi Jirga candidates accused of electoral fraud and rigging.
The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) office in Paktia last month said it had introduced four Wolesi Jirga candidates to the attorney’s office over fraud, ballot stuffing and using force.
The IECC later introduced another three candidates to the attorney’s office for fraud and making fake identity cards.
Hedayatullah Esmati, the IECC head for Paktia province, had said: “Four candidates including Nawab Mangal, Shayesta Jan Ahadi, Faridullah Zazai and Hafizullah Mubariz who used force and stuffed ballot boxes had been introduced to the attorneys.
However, the Paktia appellate court says they have not yet received any documents related to the cases of the accused candidates.
Anbar Pacha, head of Paktia appellate court, told Pajhwok Afghan News that they had not received any formal documents from the IECC regarding fraud cases of candidates.
He said the IECC chief in a telephonic contact after the accusation against the four candidates told him that the allegations were based on misunderstanding. Pacha said the IECC decision about the four candidates was premature.
On the other hand, Hedayat Esmati, the IECC head for Paktia, said he had ordered his officers to share documents of the accused candidates with the attorney’s office and he would ask about the delay in the process.
Wolesi Jirga candidates say they are concerned about the IECC’s vague decision and stressed fair and transparent processing of the election complaints.
Jumma Gul Afghan, a Wolesi Jirga candidate, said all processes of the elections should be obvious and convincing.
“The IECC allegations are probably based on evidence, we do not accept ambiguities,” he said.
According to the Independent Election Commission (IEC), Paktia is among provinces where massive fraud happened during the last month Wolesi Jirga elections.
Preliminary results of Paktia elections are yet to be announced.
mds/ma
