As the Independent Election Commission (IEC) prepares the final list of candidates for the parliamentary elections scheduled for September,

they will have to deal with the possibly contentious issue of disqualifications.The Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) has just released its own list – of 85 prospective candidates who allegedly have links to illegal armed groups.

The charge, if substantiated, could bar a candidate from running in the elections.

More than 2400 people have registered as candidates, for the upcoming poll; the final list will be released on June 22.

A special commission was established to vet the candidates, composed of representatives from the Ministries of Defense and Interior, the National Directorate of Security, as well as the ECC.

According to ECC spokesperson Ahmad Zia Rafaat, the committee has finished its investigation and has identified 85 out of 2400 candidates who may be disqualified.

This includes former commanders, members of armed groups and those who have close relations with armed groups, and come from all over Afghanistan, said Rafaat.

Among the alleged is Majeed, a candidate from Nangarhar but he vigorously disputes the charge.

“I do not know why I have been alleged with links to illegal armed groups,” he said. “I have no gun and no relations with such groups. There are many other people on the primary list who do have weapons and maintain close relations with armed groups and political factions.”

Majeed said that he was trying to find the reason for the ECC’s decision.

The candidates were given the opportunity to try and prove their innocence to the ECC, which, according to Article 64 of the Election Law, has the final say on disqualifying candidates for electoral irregularities. They had 12 days to challenge the ECC ruling.

Article 85 of the Constitution specifies the possible reasons for exclusion from the elections. Among the categories of people who are prohibited from running are: those under 25 years of age; those who have been convicted of crimes against humanity; and those who have been deprived of their civil rights by a court of law.

Another question that is weighing on the minds of election officials is security for the polls. As in the presidential elections last year, which saw dozens of attacks on voting day, there is concern among potential voters that insurgents may target the parliamentary elections.

The IEC says that they, along with the security forces, have developed a plan to ensure the safety of polling stations on Election Day.

They will have quite a daunting task. IEC spokesperson Noor Mohammad Noor told www.afghanistanvotes.com that the commission will establish 6800 polling stations and 20,000 polling centers throughout Afghanistan.

More than 2,000 candidates will be competing for 249 seats in the lower house of Parliament, the Wolesi Jirga. Sixty-eight seats in the Wolesi Jirga are reserved for women.