KABUL - The head of Independent Election Commission (IEC) of Afghanistan, Fazal Ahmad Manawi said today in Kabul that the Ulema (religious scholars) had a pivotal role to convince and persuade people to take part in the process of elections.

Addressing over 200 religious scholars from across the country at a one-day seminar on the role of the Ulema in the elections process, Mr. Manawi said preparations for the 2014 Presidential elections had already started.

“We need the support of the Ulema to preach in favour of elections and persuade the people to take part in the elections process so that we have a successful and comprehensive election in Afghanistan,” said Mr. Manawi.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Awqaf, the IEC and the Ulema Council of Afghanistan.

The United Nations will play an important role in the elections through technical and financial assistance. This is in line with its Security Council mandate (Resolution 2041) which authorizes UNAMA to “support, at the request of the Afghan authorities, the organization of future Afghan elections, as well as to strengthen, in support of the Government of Afghanistan’s efforts, the sustainability, integrity and inclusiveness of the electoral process,… and provide capacity building and technical assistance to the Afghan institutions involved in this process”.

UNAMA welcomed 31 October announcement by the IEC of the timeline leading to the 2014 elections in accordance with the Constitution.

Mr. Manawi rued the fact that some people still believe that election was a western phenomenon and not allowed in Islamic system.

Turning to the challenges, he said the IEC was confronted with the challenge to undertake the voter registration process and prepare the voters’ list in the country. He said comprehensive measures had already been put in place and hoped that the voter registration process would be smooth and successful.

Other speakers on the occasion emphasized on the importance of participation of people and Ulema in the process of elections. They said the election process was in accordance with the Islam and presented the examples of other Islamic countries including Egypt, Iran and Pakistan.

At the end, a joint resolution was adopted which called upon the people of Afghanistan to take active part in the voter registration process and in the forthcoming elections.

The resolution also asked the parties of conflict in the country, political parties and the civil society to play their significant role for institutionalization of a legitimized political system that is based on justice by taking active part in the process of elections.

The participants of seminar also stressed upon the need of active participation of women in the elections process.

They also urged the IEC to not leave any stone unturned to conducting a free, fair and transparent election in the country.

By UNAMA Kabul

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