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Kabul Province Election Invalidated

by Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD --

   Afghanistan's election complaints body has declared October's
   parliamentary elections invalid for the capital Kabul and surrounding
   areas.
   According to the Afghanistan Independent Election Complaints
   Commission, the decision is based on a determination that the elections
   in Kabul province were marred by massive fraud and violations of
   election law.
   In a news conference in Kabul Thursday, the Commission also announced
   the removal of five of the top officials of the Independent Election
   Commission of Afghanistan, the body responsible for holding the
   elections.

   Ali Reza Rohani, the spokesman of AIECC said the five officials, which
   included the head of the Election Commission Ahmad Shah Zamanzai, were
   fined about $1,333 each. He said further action may be announced
   against these officials in the coming days.
   Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, a spokesman for Election Commission said the IEC
   will soon announce its position on the AIECC decision.
   Parliamentary elections in Afghanistan were held in October. Kabul
   province has 33 seats, including nine seats for women, in the
   250-member Afghan assembly.