Protest camps removed from IEC headquarters in Kabul

Security forces on Saturday removed protest tents erected near the entrance to the Independent Election Commission (IEC) headquarters in Kabul.
Eight days ago, supporters of six disqualified Wolesi Jirga candidates shut the IEC head office in Kabul. They asked the panel to reverse its decision.
The protests were organized by the loyalists of Mullah Tarakhel Mohammadi, Qais Hassan, Ziaul Haq Amarkhel, Sher Ali Ahmadzai, Zardad Faryadi and Akbar Stanikzai, who were removed from the final list of Wolesi Jirga candidates by the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC).
The protesters complained the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission had not informed the parliamentary hopefuls before their names were struck off the final list.
However, the IECC said on August 19 that its decision regarding the removal of 35 Wolesi Jirga runners from the final list was final and irreversible.
On Saturday, the security forces removed the protest camps in front of IEC offices in Kabul and Kunduz.
Some political parties and movements earlier warned they would close off IEC offices in provinces and the capital if the government did not honor its promises of a transparent election process.
Earlier, heads of political parties and alliances termed the voters’ registration process as inappropriate and rigged, demanding fresh registration based on the biometric systems.
The parties included Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan, Jamiat-i-Islami, Wahdat-i-Islami Mardum, Jabha-i-Hirasat and Subat, Jumbish-i- Milli, Mahaz Milli, Jabha-i-Naween Milli and some others.
Mohammad Nader Afghan, HIA media office head, said its parties’ supporters were scheduled to launch protests on Saturday.
However, the Kabul garrison removed the tents from the entrance to IEC head office in Kabul and arrested some protesters.
“Right now, heads of parties have gathered; they will take a decision on the government action. The decision would be shared with the media later,” Nader Afghan said.
However, he added party supporters had embarked on peaceful protests and would close the entrance to the IEC office in 11 provinces.
The disqualified contenders say the reasons behind their removal have not been shared with them, and they even learnt about their disqualification through media.
They blame the electoral bodies of making trouble for election.
“They (IEC) has oppressed and taken out names of candidates from the list and wants to start a ‘bloodshed’. We are ready for such a ‘bloodshed’,” Qais Hassan, a disqualified candidate, was quoted as saying by ToloNews.