The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Wednesday announced that of the eleven Presidential candidates only eight of them have registered their assets with election officials while the remaining three candidates have yet to do so, despite having been required to prior to the start of the campaign season on Sunday.
Amid growing anxieties about the transparency and integrity of the April vote, a crackdown on candidates failing to comply with campaign regulations would likely bolster confidence in the IEC's commitment to ensuring a legitimate election process.
"From amongst the eleven Presidential candidates, eight of them have shown their properties and have opened up bank accounts and have introduced their representatives to the Commission, but three of the candidates have committed violations - they have not opened a bank account, registered properties or introduced their representatives," IEC Commissioner Sarir Ahmad Barmak said on Wednesday.
The IEC has said that the three candidates, who officials declined to identify, had violated the campaign regulations of the Election Law and consequently would been be introduced to the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC).
"The IEC tomorrow or next week will introduce these candidates to the Electoral Complaints Commission, because they have committed an electoral violation and the ECC has authority in enforcing the laws," Mr. Barmak added.
The Presidential candidates were obligated to register their assets with the IEC before the start of their campaigns, in order to for election officials to have greater financial oversight over them.