Afghanistan probes election commissions over allegation of misusing authority

The Afghan government on Wednesday announced to launch an investigation into allegations that the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan and a separate complaints commission misused their authority during last year’s parliamentary elections.

The October elections were marred by chaos, and the full results have yet to be announced.

The investigation was announced a day after the government in Kabul fired 12 members of both commissions and barred them from leaving the country.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has given politicians and civil society members one week to nominate new election commission members.

Afghanistan is set to hold a presidential election in July, but the Taliban have supported an interim arrangement in their talks with United States envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. The Afghan government, which has been largely sidelined in the talks, rejects that idea.