Monday, February 02, 2015
Kabul (BNA) Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan met yesterday with former senators at the Sapidar Palace.
According to Executive Chief Press Office to BNA, in the meeting representing others, Rafiullah Gul Afghan and Haji Amanullah spoke and praised Chief Executive for hearing their problems.
They enumerated a range of their demands such as campaign in electoral system, rule of law, holding on time parliamentary and district councils’ elections, putting an end to acting governors’ works, giving overseeing rights to provincial councils and considering the security of former senators. The senators also informed on formation of a senators and elite figures’ society, saying that the society had been formed for better cooperation with government and the system.
Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah praised former senators for their services, adding that Senate and senators had played vital role in Afghanistan’s situations since the establishment of Senate. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah promised to solve senators’ problems, saying that senators should spare no advises to the government. Relating to reforms in electoral system, Dr. Abdullah said, “Reforms in electoral system and commission are to be followed based on political agreement and fortunately National Unity Government’s will and determination is to bring and reforms, adding President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and I have strong commitment to bring reforms in electoral system.”
Chief Executive further said by bringing reforms in electoral system, Afghanistan would never face with those problems which challenge the country. Dr. Abdullah asked senators to be in touch with him and he would be at their service. According to another report, Second Vice-President, Sarwar Danesh in a conference titled ‘Axin Network’s National Conference on Electoral Reforms’ said leadership board of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was ready to bring any types of reforms in electoral system. The Second Vice-President rejected rumors related to viewing gap between leadership panels of the National Unity Government in connection with electoral reforms, asserting that currently discussions were underway on provision of elections budget, maintaining security, technical challenges, elections schedule and relevant issues. Stressing that any kinds of reforms should be followed based on national gathering, Danesh said unilateral views and discussions and without consultation with national and political sides including civil society, political and relevant government organizations would not only solve the problem but also probably cause wasting of time and failure. The Second Vice-President while expressing his views related to reforms in electoral system said guaranteeing the independence and impartiality of electoral commissions, identification of voters, complete impartiality of the government organs as in particular ANA, ANP, NDS and judicial organs towards parties, nominees and voters, access of Afghan citizens and nominees, representatives of political parties, monitors and media to polling centers and polling sheets were those which need to be reviewed in amendment of electoral system. In the conference, a number of government officials including chief executive second deputy Mohammad Muhaqiq and representatives of civil society organizations expressed their views related to amendment in electoral system and stressed on acceleration of reforms’ process in this regard.
