Pres. Ghani rejects political parties’ call for changes in electoral system

President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday rejected the call of political parties for changes in electoral system and immediate suspension of voter registration process, saying these so called political parties do not represent the public.
After a consultative meeting in Kabul on Saturday, some mainstream political parties including Jamiat-e-Islami, Hizb-e-Islami, Hizb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami, Mahaz-e-Milli party, Islamic National Movement of Afghanistan and a few other political movements called for changes to be brought to the electoral system. The proposed changes included the immediate suspension of the voter registration process, roll out of biometric system for voter registration and declaring each province a single constituency. The political parties argued that the current electoral system could not guarantee transparency in election, so it could lead the country to political crisis. They warned that if their requests were not met, they would boycott the upcoming parliamentary election.
Speaking at a press conference, the President, however, called political parties’ demands impractical, stressing that the government is committed to holding parliamentary and presidential elections on time.
“Biometrics is not possible in six months, do you want to postpone parliamentary election and are the people happy with current parliament? Do you want the presidential poll to be delayed and lead to a political chaos?” argued the president.
The president said more than enough people registered to vote in coming election:” The United Nations said that 4.2 million voters were enough for poll, but two fold of this number, more than 8.6 million Afghans turned out and registered themselves.”
Questioning political parties’ position among the people, the President argued that who gave them the right to speak on behalf of the people.
“Who elected them? What percentage of votes did they get? When did the public give them the right to represent the masses? Who are they to boycott the election? When were they given the authority of the country?”
Political parties should first be held accountable for their activities over the past four decades, since they were mostly in power, said the President.
“How can a group of people with illegal gunmen call themselves a political party? Political parties should not have militias.”
The President once again denied the rumors about the possibility of holding Loya Jirga instead of election to extend the term of the National Unity government.
“The Constitution is being fully implemented. Neither will Jirga be convened nor any other option used. There is no alternative to the vote of the people,” he assured.
Ghani also said that there is very high possibility of First Vice President Gen. Dostum’r return to the country.
“General Dostum’s return is very possible. This issue has legal aspects and discussions are underway in this regard with Attorney General’s Office.”