After more than a week of uncertainty and suppositions, the head of Afghanistan Independent Election Commission (IEC) was appointed by President Hamid Karzai.

In a news conference on Saturday April 17 in Kabul, Hamid Karzai’s spokesperson Waheed Omar announced

that President Karzai, after consultations with heads of upper and lower house of parliament, chief justice, and political leaders of Afghanistan, has appointed   Fazel Ahmad Manawi, a former commissioner of the IEC, as the new Head of this electoral body.

The appointment of Manawi as the head of IEC happens at a crucial time as the electoral body is due to conduct parliamentary elections within the next 5 months, while disagreement between President and lower house of parliament over the electoral law is still continuing.

Fazel Ahmad Manawi, who fought against Soviet occupation and Taliban regime, is famous for his moderate religious thoughts. He is a strong supporter of human rights and has been defending women rights values by Islamic and logical ratiocinations. He has written dozens of articles regarding human rights values.

Appointment of Manawi seems to be a wise move, because in the aftermath of last year’s fraudulent election, the IEC had lost its domestic and international credibility.

Manawi, on one hand was a commissioner of the IEC, so he is well familiar with the body’s responsibilities as well as its staff, and on the other hand, most political leaders and parties, especially United National Front (Jebha Melli) whose candidate, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah was Karzai’s major challenger in last year’s presidential election, is optimistic  to Manawi’s appointment.

This optimism stems from Manawi’s previous political stances.

Analysts believe that Manawi as a commissioner of the IEC, he has never been biased towards any individual.

Despite this optimism, some anxiety and concerns still exists.

Fazel Sancharaki, spokesperson to United National Front, on April 17, told Radio Liberty that their optimism is based on hopes that upcoming parliamentary elections will be conducted transparently and fairly. However, he seemed skeptical about such transparency and fairness.

Of course repairing the damaged credibility of IEC, finding funds of upcoming parliamentary elections, and conducting transparent and fair election are the priorities of Manawi; however on the other hand, he has some other responsibilities which he needs to be deeply careful about.

The most significant issues that Manawi has to deal with would be as follows:
•    Finding a solution for the current disagreement of President and Lower House of Parliament over the electoral law;
•    Firing the staffs of the IEC who were involved in last year election’s fraud; 
•    And in the long term, strengthening a comprehensive base for future elections;

Manawi must be deeply careful that for establishing peace and stability, and for development of the country; participation of people in elections is a vital milestone. Therefore, the Independent Election Commission as the sole conductor of elections is responsible for protecting people’s votes, and repairing the damaged credibility of IEC, as otherwise, history will judge him the way it shouldn’t do.