The Stability and Convergence team reiterated its boycott of vote recount, warning of the consequences if continued in absence of presidential tickets.
Abduallah Abdullah, a presidential candidate and incumbent CEO of the National Unity Government, told a press conference in Kabul that resumption of ballot re-tally was illegal, calling on the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to stop acting as a spokesperson of Ghani-led State Building team.
He said IEC had failed to convince his ticket and urged the election panel to immediately stop the vote recount.
“We have decided to boycott the ballot recounting process,” Abdullah said, warning “If IEC fails to reconsider its decision in this regard, the commission intentionally calls into question its independence, and we will have to make our decision based on their actions.”
After opposition from a number of presidential tickets, IEC postponed the vote recount last week for three days, but the election body on Sunday resumed the process.
Hawa Alam Nuristani, IEC chief, said on Monday the commission leadership held at least two meetings over technical aspects of the vote recount and shared their explanation with election tickets.
But Abdullah accused the election body of being in favor of the President Ghani-led State Building team.
“Wherever there is fraud, the State Building ticket defends it. We did not expect the election commission to act as spokesperson for the State Building team,” Abdullah said.
Supporters of Stability and Convergence team in some provinces protested resumption of the vote recount on Sunday, and even prevented the process in some provinces, including Kunduz.
Abdullah said in his press conference that one of his team’s observers had been killed in the northwestern province.
He also accused the government of ordering security forces to open fire on people protesting the recount.
“In a situation where fight against terrorism still continues, how can they order security forces to shoot people? Whoever gives the order will be responsible for the repercussions,” Abdullah warned.
He specifically said that Special Forces were used to suppress the protesters.
“This force is created for security and the fight against terrorism. Any attempt to use the force for political purposes and engaging it in election is against the constitution and treason,” he concluded.
