E-voting system at Wolesi Jirga remains inactive

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some Wolesi Jirga members on Wednesday said electronic voting system could not be activated in the lower house despite its installation one and a half years ago.

Helmand Helmand, a lawmaker from southeastern Khost province, said the electronic device was installed 18 months back on their tables, but it remained inactive.

“If the system is activated, it can bring transparency in elections in the parliament and also avoid time wasting.”

The lawmaker also demanded early introduction of Cabinet nominees for a trust vote.

He said if the electronic voting system was activated, it would help end voting for the ministers-designate in shortest time without any kind of bargaining.

Sayed Ahmad Selab, another lawmaker from southern Kandahar province, said, “There is no country in the world where a voting system does not exist in parliaments.”

He hoped the electronic voting system would be activated before introduction of the Cabinet picks to the house.

A number of other lawmakers held similar views and called for activation of the system as soon as possible.

Pajhwok contacted the Wolesi Jirga Secretariat for comment in this regard but in vain.

pk/ma