KUNDUZ - Less than a month before the scheduled parliamentary elections, Afghan electoral and human rights groups met with United Nations officials in the northeast province of Kunduz this week to share information about electoral preparations.

“We have successfully finished the voter registration process. The high figure of registered voters in Kunduz shows the interest of the people in the election,” said Shah Jehan Sardari, the head of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) provincial office.

The meeting comes just days after voter registration for the 18 September scheduled polls wrapped up with 376,000 first time voters registered across the country.

The IEC announced on Thursday that 5,897 polling centres will be open during the Wolesi Jirga elections, while approximately 14 per cent of the original total closed.

Insecurity in parts of the province and concerns over intimidation and interference in the electoral process continue to be major election challenges, Sardari told gathered representatives.

“We registered 26 electoral complaints. Decisions have been made on 13 small cases and investigations are ongoing on the serious complaints, such as threats by anti-government elements and pro-government groups,” said Shah Mohammd, Commissioner of the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) in Kunduz.

The IEC has distributed more than 2,000 observation and monitoring cards to electoral observers and candidates’ agents

Among the groups that will observe the voting process at polling sites is the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. The AIHRC which will monitor for violations, including obstacles to free movement and discrimination, said AIHRC’s Human Rights Monitoring and Investigation Officer in Kunduz, Sayed Karim Talash.

In addition to observing, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) plans to educate 286 candidates in the region about the electoral process, said NDI’s head in Kunduz, Dr. Muhammad Haroon Nasrat.

Meanwhile, the Education Centre for Women (ECW) and its partner Habibullah have a programme underway to educate 8,000 people on election issues, rule of law, good governance and the role of women in society.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UNDP-ELECT facilitated the meeting. Following a written request by President Karzai earlier in the year, the UN provides technical and logistical support to the Afghan independent electoral authorities who have full responsibility to conduct the 18 September parliamentary election.

By UNAMA/Shamsuddin Hamedi