Following the announcement of Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai’s victory in the election on Sunday, Kabul residents spoke out about their frustration with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and their desire to see those involved in fraud held accountable.
In his announcement on Sunday, Ahmad Yousaf Nuristani confirmed that large scale fraud took place, but did not release the specific numbers in order to satisfy the arrangement made between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah.
Fawad is a 26-year-old Kabul resident. He voted in this year’s election and is angry with the conduct of the election commission. “The election commission officials have betrayed the conviction of the people and they must be put on trial without delay,” he said.
On the other hand, Kabul University student Romal, says he is happy because he didn’t vote in the election, which he called a sham. “I, as a student, feel proud of not voting in the elections, because those who voted under fragile security situations had their votes mocked and this indicates the weakness of the election commission,” Romal said.
The dragged out election process took its toll on regular Afghans, who suffered the most as the economy stalled and uncertainty prevailed.
Omar Shah lives in the Guzargah area of Kabul and supports himself by selling dried fruits. “People threatened their blood and lives, but they voted in the elections,” Omar Shah said. “But the IEC officials didn’t manage the process well, therefore, they must be brought to justice.”
Meanwhile, civil society groups have also criticized the IEC and called for accountability.
“The election commission must accept that it has played a role in all sorts of issues witnessed in the election process, so the election management body must take responsibility for this,” said Mohammad Yousaf Rashid, the head of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA).
Jandad Spinghar, another leader of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FFEFA), said that the new government is obligated to pursue justice for those involved in the electoral fraud.
“The assessment of problems witnessed in the election process is quite important, if IEC staff and commissioners are found guilty in creating the crisis, they must be brought to justice,” Spinghar said.
Defying threats and the intimidation of insurgent groups, the Afghan people voted in unprecedented numbers on April 5 and again on June 14. But the outcome of election after six months, indeed, the election itself, has become marred in the minds of many by the IEC's mismanagement of the process.
