Afghanistan Times
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Abdul Zuhoor Qayomi-KABUL: Wolesi Jirga (WJ) on Wednesday welcomed recommendations made by the Special Electoral Reforms Commission (SERC) and asked the government to start distribution of electronic identity cards (e-ID cards).
A number of lawmakers said that distribution of the cards is key to holding free and fair polls.
Assadullah Saadati, a member of the SERC, briefed Wolesi Jirga on details of the recommended reforms to the election system of the country.
Naheed Farid, an MP from western Herat province, holding transparent elections are not possible without amending election laws and brining reforms.
Shekiba Hashemi, a lawmaker from Kandahar province, put her weight behind the recommendations. She urged the government to bringing reforms to the election bodies soon.
Shah Gul Rezaiee, another MP, said that only reforms to the election system can guarantee transparent polls.
Speaker of the Wolesi Jirga, Abdul Rauf Ebrahemi, welcomed the recommended reforms and urged President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah to pave the ground for implantation of the reforms. He termed the reforms as important for restore trust of people on elections. He called on the government to start distribution of e-ID cards.
In the meantime, a number of lawmakers expressed their disagreement with the recommendations and said that the SERC has no legal base.
Allotting seats for political parties, 25 % representation of women to in provincial and district councils, distribution of electronic ID cards and drawing up the voters list were the key recommendations discussed in the Wolesi Jirga.
