KABUL – About 100 Afghan members of parliament demanded yesterday that President Hamid Karzai inaugurate the assembly by December 19th, almost three weeks after final results of a fraud-marred election were declared.
Afghanistan’s political crisis has been simmering since even before the much criticised September 18th ballot, with tension rising on reports that the attorney general’s office had asked for the vote to be annulled.
The troubles send a worrying message of ongoing instability to US president Barack Obama as he completes a review of his Afghanistan war strategy this week.
Consistent allegations of vote fraud in the September poll and in a presidential election last year have raised questions about the credibility of Mr Karzai and his government as a partner as US and Nato leaders are assessing their long-term commitment to Afghanistan.
Final general election results from the 34 provinces were released on December 1st. Poll officials had said late in November a parliament could be formed within a week but there has been no attempt to convene the assembly.
The Independent Election Commission has accused the attorney general’s office of “irresponsible statements” and warned of a political crisis after local media reported he had called for election results to be cancelled.
About 100 deputies, calling themselves the Administrative Board of the Parliament, issued a three-point declaration after gathering at the legislature.
“We call on the president to inaugurate parliament,” the group said in a declaration given to Reuters by Fawzia Kufi, an outspoken lawmaker from the northeastern province of Badakhshan.
She accused Mr Karzai, who has been critical of the poll, of instigating efforts to have the results cancelled. Mr Karzai “cannot delay this any more”, she said, referring to the inauguration.
The group also said the attorney general’s office and the supreme court did not have the authority to interfere in the election process.
“The palace is behind this. Karzai is not happy with the results,” said Ms Kufi.
Mr Karzai is likely to face a larger, more vocal and coherent opposition than in the previous chamber. His spokesman, Waheed Omer, played down the delay, saying the situation was comparable to those faced by other countries and Mr Karzai would abide by the constitution.
“The current situation is not critical, it is a common situation . . . in many world democracies. The democracy in Afghanistan is nascent,” Mr Omer told a news conference in Kabul. “Whatever comes in the light of the law and becomes the result, that should be acceptable to all.” – (Reuters)