The Cabinet's decision to remove the Election Complaints Commission (ECC) from the electoral process goes against provisions in Afghanistan's constitution for a fair and transparent poll, the Cooperation and Coordination Council of Political Parties (CCPP) said Saturday.
CCPP members on Saturday urged lawmakers not to approve the redrafted election law without the ECC because it will not guarantee a transparent election.
"The Cabinet decision is against the provisions of Afghanistan's constitution and a facilitator of more fraud," CCPP member Hamidullah Farooqi said. "The election is a national and professional process. A professional and independent organ should follow up any issues related to it."
The Council of Ministers last Monday approved the election law with the exception of the independent ECC. Instead, the ministers recommended that oversight of the final poll decision will be assigned to the president-appointed Supreme Court.
"The Afghan courts are not able to fairly resolve the issues of the election as it has been shown in the past. A special and professional commission should follow up these issues," CCPP member Asadullah Sahadati said at the press conference.
The politicians also accused the government of sidelining political parties and not engaging in dialogue to solve national issues.
"There is no place for the political parties and civil society organs within the Afghan government which is a dangerous sign," CCPP member Faizullah Zaki said, adding that he fears there will be fraud in the next election.
"The government is also not eager to solve issues through dialogue with political parties," he said.
The CCPP is a coalition of at least 20 Afghan political parties launched in September to push for a transparent and fair election. The next election is less than 16 months away on April 5 2014.
The ECC has been a more politically sensitive since the parliament approved the presence of two foreign commissioners on its board. However, that approval was subsequently rejected by the senate in a vote last month.
The Council of Ministers decision to remove the ECC altogether will require approval again from the parliament.