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KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential candidate Ahmad Wali Massoud on Wednesday called the upcoming election and the ongoing peace process as vague issues, saying presidential candidates would express their position if the government did not listen to demands of the Council of Candidates.
The presidential election is scheduled for September 28. Eighteen candidates including President Ashraf Ghani are running for the presidency.
The Council of Candidates, a coalition of 12 presidential candidates, released a statement on Tuesday, asking the government to create a cooperative environment between electoral bodies, political parties and civil society organizations.
The candidates also asked the government to prevent interference in election commissions, improve election oversight activities and suspend sacking or appointments of civil and military officials ahead of the election.
Other demands of the candidates include prevention of earlier campaign, prevention of showy activities of the president such as traveling to provinces and others and giving equal opportunity to all candidates by the media.
Ahmad Wali Massoud, a member of the council and presidential candidate, told reporters here that the council on Tuesday decided to declare its position if the government did not respond positively to their demands until July 23.
“The government is busy doctoring the coming presidential election, the (president) is using government resources for his election campaign,” he said.
“The election and peace issues are not clear, we and the Afghans are not consulted on these issues to know what kind of peace deals are being made, what is priority, peace or election, is it possible to hold a transparent election in current situation? No one has so far responded on these issues,” he said.
Farida Momand, first vice-presidential running mate of Ahmad Wali Massoud, also accused the government of violating the Constitution in some cases.
“The national unity government is a failure, it has no achievements except creating divisions among brotherly ethnic groups,” she concluded.
Mds/ma

 

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