Electoral reform: New decree calls for new selection panel

KABUL (Pajhwok): Under the new presidential decree on electoral reform, a new selection committee would be established to pave the way for replacing officials of the two electoral bodies, an official said on Sunday.
Syed Zafar Hashimi, the deputy spokesman for the Presidential Palace, told Pajhwok Afghan News the new legislative decree was enforceable since its signing by the president.
A BBC report says President Ghani has signed the law on composition, duties, responsibilities and authorities of the election commissions about 12 days ago.
In accordance with the legislative decree, the new selection committee, to be tasked with nominating members of the two election commissions, would include as members the heads of both houses of parliament, the Supreme Court, the Oversight Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and two civil society organizations.
On December 21, the Wolesi Jirga rejected a previous legislative decree on electoral reforms and the Independent Election Commission (AIEC) and Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC).
Under the previous decree, the selection panel included four members of the Supreme Court, the AIHRC, and the oversight commission and the Independent Administrative Reform & Civil Service Commission (IARCSC) and three members of civil society organizations.
In addition to changes in members of the selection committee, the working period of the committee head has been reduced to two and a half years from three years in the new decree and age limitation for the commissioners of the two election bodies fixed between 30 to 35 years.