Gov’t pursues grip on power, not election transparency; ex-advisor

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AT-KABUL: The government is focusing on how to prolong its power, this is important for the government officials, not transparency of the election, said an adviser for the former president, Hamid Karzai.

“For this purpose, the government tries to launch the election even an infamous and inefficient election,” Shahzada Massoud said Tuesday.

“Currently, the country is in a deep crisis and we cannot guarantee transparency, justice and nationwide of election in this situation, and the next election would be full of fraud and problems.”

He added that the current government was under strong pressure by Americans and Europeans, so, transparency of election is not important for the leaders of this government, but they want an election in which their power be prolonged.

Massoud is worried if the government and election commission do not take the election serious and a fraudulent election would not be acceptable for the people. He called on the people not to accept the fraudulent election that would lead the country towards crisis.

He called on the government and international allies to seek a practical way for the solution of the Afghan crisis, saying that the Loya Jirga should be called as the situation was not fit for the election.

He said that Taliban and other armed groups could also attend the Loya Jirga and explain their stances. He called the ceasefire between the government and Taliban a “good step”, but said it was not enough and should be extended to reach a durable peace.

He claimed that there was a confrontation among powerful countries in Afghanistan instead of cooperation, and that a proxy war was going on. He asked the foreign countries to stop confrontation in Afghanistan.