LOC14:53
11:53 GMT
ISLAMABAD, Sept 16 (KUNA) -- The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has
announced the candidate registration process for presidential and provincial
elections will begin on Monday.
The IEC spokesman, Noor Mohammad Noor told that no candidate has so far
registered for the presidential election due on 5th April 2014. He further
informed that the registration offices would remain open from 8am till 4pm and
from 8.30am till 1:30pm on Thursdays. The candidate must fulfill the
requirements set by the IEC that are Presidential runners should have a clean
track record, 100,000 supporters and the ability to deposit security in IEC
account.
The spokesman told media that a provincial council wannabe should have at
least 200 voter cards (supporters) and the ability to deposit USD 360 in the
IEC account. He told that the final list of candidates will be displayed on
November 7 and 29 individuals had so far been issued with information kits for
presidential candidates. The spokesman confirmed that the recipients included
National Coalition of Afghanistan leaders Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Ahmad Zia
Massoud.
Earlier on Sunday the British Ambassador to Afghanistan, Sir Richard Stagg
said that Britain will respect the result if the Taliban win next years
presidential and provincial council elections. The Ambassador ensured that
Britain would not interfere in the elections in Afghanistan by saying,
"Afghans know far better than anyone else who is the right person to lead
them".
Mr. Noor further added that the IEC would send mobile voter registration
teams to remote rural areas to give voter cards to the people who were unable
to travel to provincial capitals for registration after September 27th. (end)
sbk.mt
KUNA 161453 Sep 13NNNN