The Office of the Attorney General of Afghanistan has publicly denounced the results of September’s parliamentary elections, which were published on November 24. Stating that the elections had been marred by widespread fraud, the prosecutor’s office has said that it will begin investigations into the alleged abuses. While some Afghan citizens see the AG’s reaction as justified, others consider it politically motivated interference in the activities of the independent election bodies, and many perceive a political game behind the measures.

In Your Opinion, How is the Attorney General’s Reaction to the Final Results of the Parliamentary Elections?

“It is a suitable stance if it is based on evidence that shows fraud in the elections,” said Mohammad Sharif Stanekzai, 30, a resident of Logar province. “But if there is no proof, then the Attorney General’s office is just playing a political game in favor of the government. If that is the case, then I oppose it.”

 “In my opinion, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) is an independent body and the Attorney General’s office should not interfere in its activities,” said Khalid, a student in the Journalism Faculty of Kabul University. “There is also the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) to solve any election-related problems. If the ECC is unable to solve such problems, then these should be referred to the Attorney General’s Office. In my opinion, this is a political conspiracy, nothing else.”

“It is a plot planned by the government,” said Saeed Haroon, a student of Kabul University. “The government wants to distract the losing candidates’ attention in order to stop the demonstrations.”

Wazhma Hela Qadiri, a student at Kabul Medical University, thinks that the Attorney General’s office is acting appropriately.

“These results are illegal,” she said. “Widespread fraud has taken place and the votes of some the candidates have been stolen. The IEC and ECC personnel who are suspected of being involved in fraud should be brought to the justice.”

“Why did the Attorney General’s office not react against the widespread fraud in last year’s presidential election?” asked Ahmad, a lecturer in Kabul University. “Why did the office not react then as it is doing now? Many illegal actions are going on in the country that the Attorney General’s office should react to, but is silent about.”

“I hope the Attorney General’s office does interfere in the IEC’s activities and lets the body put the principles of democracy into practice,” added Ahmad, “Otherwise, with such interventions, the country will once again fall into civil war and narrow-minded people will benefit, as they block the highways and create problems for people.”

“In my opinion, the reaction by the Attorney General’s Office was a legal and realistic action,” said Saeed Farhad, 20, a resident of Kabul city. “The office is authorized to question any suspect whether s/he is a candidate, an IEC official and so on. We watch reports on widespread fraud in the Parliamentary elections on television. Some Parliamentary candidates have tried to gain seats through illegal means; they even have given money and/or used force to achieve their goals. Such candidates cannot represent people as required.”

“It is political intervention in the IEC’s activities,” said Ahmad Fawad, a resident of Takhar province, currently, studying English in Azrakhash English Language Course. “It is clear that any individual in Afghanistan wants to work for his/her own benefit. The government’s high-ranking officials wanted to bring their choices to the Parliament, and the votes of competent candidates have been stolen.”