Hundreds protest in Kabul against alleged vote fraud

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday against alleged vote fraud and irregularities in the presidential polls.

The Stability and Partnership team led by presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah -- power-sharing Chief Executive to the incumbent President Ashraf Ghani -- has called for a march to protest alleged vote fraud and electoral irregularities.

In a social media post, Abdullah warned that if the Independent Election Commission failed to comply with the rules and regulations, no one would be able to stop the masses from coming to the streets.

Abdullah added his team would not accept the outcome in such a case.

With the country’s election commission way behind schedule for compiling result of the Sep. 28 polls, Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid said earlier this week that the security forces would not allow violence to undermine presidential elections.

The election commission was supposed to announce on Nov. 7 results of the presidential polls in which a total of 13 candidates vied for the top office, but it is yet to announce the preliminary poll results.

The commission is recounting votes in a total of 8,255 disputed polling stations across the provinces with an aim to come-up with the preliminary results.

Hava Alam Nuristani, head of the election commission, on Thursday rejected reports of pressure on the commission, saying the commission is moving forward in accordance with the law, and the candidates should show patience and allow the commission to work.