KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): The residents of northeastern Kunduz province demanded changes and transparency in the election system.
A conference regarding suggestions of people to reform ballot was held on Saturday in Kunduz City, the provincial capital, in which over 300 persons participated.
The conference was organized by the New Line organization and Afghan Civil Society Election Network (ACSEN) aimed at collecting suggestions of people from all walks of life.
Hamidullah Baloch, director of Independent Election Commission (IEC), said that holding such conferences would help bring better amendments to the election law and counter threats and violation in the election process.
He said the participants stressed the IEC should provide immoveable polling system which was more efficient system in the world.
A number of people stressed on transparency in the election process.
Fazlullah Yaqubi one of the participants, told Pajhwok Afghan News he suggested three issues including immediate distribution of computerized ID cards, transparency in election and recruitment of professional individuals in the election commissions.
He stressed the commissions should not face shortage of employees during their work because shortage of employees could lead election process to face problems.
Syed Rahim, a resident of Chahar Dara district, said the polls system should be changed and the election law amended. He said the election commissions should be provided with database system.
The previous presidential and provincial election processes were faced problems by some powerful individuals, warlords, relatives of candidates, insecurity and fraud, he said, adding that Kunduz people want a transparent and free elections free from interference by warlords.
ACSEN head Dr. Mohammad Haroon said that based on their assessment, most of the participants demanded amendments in election law and formation of election commissions.
The participants were divided into eight groups and each of them had provided their own suggestions regarding reforms in the election system, he said, adding that suggestions would be shared with Kabul election commission officials.
The Electoral Reforms Commission (ERC) is scheduled to share their suggestions about the reforms for the election system with the president.
Shah Sultan Akefi, head of the panel, told Pajhwok Afghan News they had collected views and suggestions from more than 1,500 people regarding elections reforms from all seven zones of the country.
These people, he said, were members of civil society, political parties and legal experts. He did not go into detail, but hoped the suggestions could pave the way for parliamentary elections.
According to Akefi, 90 percent of the people whose views and suggestions have been obtained said those accused of electoral fraud should be prosecuted.
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