A spokesman for the IEC, reacting to the charges that the vote was massively rigged in favour of President Hamed Karzai, insisted the commission had always tried its best to conduct transparent, free and fair elections.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Abdullah claimed the IEC collaborated with the Karzai administration at fixing the ballot. He showed reporters some IEC website links that proved Karzai bagged 100 percent votes in several provinces.
In Paktika, he said, the number of ballots cast was 100 percent more than the number of registered voters. He said the IEC and the government launched the fraud conspiracy as soon as the election process was set in motion. And the anomalies continued, he maintained.
Although 500 polling centres remained closed due to insecurity, ballot boxes were stuffed in favour of Karzai, according to the ex-foreign minister, who argued the partial results announced by the commission created confusion among the masses and ran counter to the election law. It should be stopped forthwith.
While responding to the accusations, the IEC assured citizens and candidates it had carried out this duty faithfully, impartially and according to the law. Noor Muhammad Noor, IEC spokesman, said the commission reserved the right of vindication against allegations from some candidates.
"The IEC considers the allegations of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah are against the expectations and endeavors of the IEC. The commission believes, considering the prevailing situation in the country, the elections were transparent and just."
Noor added: "We assure people that final results will be announced after the necessary investigations have been completed and we are certain that any suspicion about the IEC will be eliminated."
mud/pr
