A number of Afghan MPs on Wednesday rejected the possibility of delaying the April Presidential and Provincial Council elections, saying the move would be illegal, unconstitutional and devastating for Afghanistan.
Although not in direct response to anything in particular, the MPs remarks on Wednesday come as speculation circulates about officials secretly planning to delay the elections for their own interests or because of insecurity.
"No one should talk about changing the five year presidential terms, this is contrary to the Constitution and its a violation of the law," MP Ghulaam Hassain Naseri said.
"A delay of the elections should not be allowed, its against the law," concured MP Gulaam Farooq Majrouh. "Although we have an elected system, we don't have security, but if the election is delayed, security will get worse and the credibility and legitimacy of the system damaged."
Senate Chairman Fazel Hadi Muslimyar on Tuesday said Afghanistan has no other option but to hold the Presidential elections on time to ensure a peaceful transition of political power as Hamid Karzai steps down next year and the NATO coalition withdraws.
He confirmed that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) would be in charge of providing security for the upcoming elections, but added that he was concerned about the current state of security.
The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Wednesday said that election preparations were moving ahead on schedule and the vote would be held on time, on April 5.