Monday February 3, 2014
Kabul (BNA) The presidential elections campaigns officially started on Sunday.
The Independent Election Commission (IEC) in a meeting with senior security officials discussed security for the Presidential candidates.
In addition to the security challenges, the IEC also addressed campaign regulations.
The IEC has further asked that the Presidential candidates refrain from heavy expenditures during their campaigns. “We all know that security is a topic discussed by all, whether its round tables or politicians, everyone is concerned about security,” IEC head Dr. Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani said.
“No election candidate is allowed to spend more money from the amount which has been estimated by the election law, if any of the candidates violated the law, legal action would be taken against him, and campaigns expenditures should be transparent to avoid confusion.” “We all know that security is a topic discussed by all, whether its round tables or politicians, everyone is concerned about security,” IEC head Dr. Ahmad Yousuf Nooristani said.
“Our expectations from the government authorities is to avoid operating in support of any of the nominees in the polling, the government should avoid working in favor of the candidates for the sake of transparency and credibility of the elections and government must act on impartiality and neutrality,” Nooristani added.
“We have serious and precise preparations, we will work to the best of our ability with the help of the Presidential candidates,” Minister of Interior Omer Daudzai said. “We hope we will not have any problems.” However, amongst the candidates, there still remain a number of concerns heading into the campaign period.
“Elections must not be commercial so that a fine government is created,” Presidential candidate Hedayat Ameen Arsala said. “Money and financial means will be misused; a simple competition in the current situation of Afghanistan needs a good budget,” said Sarwar Danish, the second Vice President to Asharf Ghani Ahmadzai.” The amount in the election law, what is it based on? I think most of the candidates will face problems.” “Candidates must lead peaceful campaigns, and moral campaigns,” Presidential candidate Qutbuddin Helal said. “We should not denigrate each other and should not create tensions in the country.” “The election commission must allow the presidential candidates to spend up to ten million Afghani or more than that in the election campaigns, because it has positive impacts on the economic activities,” ACCI chairman Mohammad Qurban Haqjo said.
“The candidates should print their advertisements and posters inside the country, because it provides employment opportunity to many jobless people.” The Election commission of Afghanistan has also demanded the presidential candidates to organize their campaigns under peaceful environment and avoid any sort of violent approach that could bring up social issues and asked the candidates to transparently report on their financial expenditures during campaigns to the election commission.
Meanwhile, Kabul Municipality has also warned on pasting posters on areas and places which weren’t allowed and has said that if any of the candidates violated the rule, cash fine would be received from them. The people of Afghanistan expect that the election candidates during the campaigns represent a comprehensive strategy from their future roadmap and programs to the nation and avoid giving fake promises to the people. “Afghanistan is an impoverished country where majority of the people live below the poverty line, the candidates should include poverty alleviation programs among their top working priorities,” Kabul resident Ferdows said.
Eleven candidates are contesting in 2014 presidential elections to achieve the presidency of Afghanistan and lead the country for another term.
