Three major election teams have started talks to provide the ground for transparency in the upcoming presidential polls scheduled for September 28.
The teams include Peace and Moderation led by former National Security Advisor Mohammad Haneef Atmar, the Stability and Partnership team led by Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, and Peace and Islamic Justice team led by Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
Those who attended the discussions said members of the teams are discussing mechanisms which will ensure transparency in the elections, but they have not discussed making a coalition.
A spokesman for Peace and Moderation team, Qadir Shah, said the talks between members of the teams were held to prevent interference by government and to prevent any misuse of government facilities by President Ghani in the upcoming elections.
“The Peace and Moderation team has a council for talking and making agreements with other presidential candidates and in this council, there is a single view on election transparency and electoral reforms as well as on government’s ‘illegal’ activities,” he said.
“We are ready to talk with any interested team on specific mechanisms on how to prevent President Ashraf Ghani from misusing government facilities, selling government seats, and using governors, district governors, police chiefs and government employees for illegal campaigns,” said Assadullah Sadati, the second vice presidential candidate for Stability and Partnership.
Amid the efforts for the election, a number of political parties said the ongoing peace efforts have affected the electoral process.
“The US’s priority is peace and if this priority is implemented, the elections will be naturally delayed,” said Mohammad Natiqi, head of the political committee of the political parties.
This comes as President Ghani has, in many occasions, stressed the need for transparent elections and has assured that government will not interference in the process. He has also emphasized on holding timely elections.
