Afghanistan is unlikely to hold a presidential election this year since its incumbent leader, Ashraf Ghani, is trying to stay in power, Chief Executive of the Jamiat-e Islami party of Afghanistan Atta Mohammad Noor, who attended intra-Afghan dialogue in Moscow, said on Thursday
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 30th May, 2019) Afghanistan is unlikely to hold a presidential election this year since its incumbent leader, Ashraf Ghani, is trying to stay in power, Chief Executive of the Jamiat-e Islami party of Afghanistan Atta Mohammad Noor, who attended intra-Afghan dialogue in Moscow, said on Thursday.A presidential election was initially scheduled for April 20 but has since been rescheduled twice. The newest date is September 28. Ghani's term ended earlier in May, but the Supreme Court allowed him to extend it until the election.
"I don't believe that the [presidential] election will take place [this year] if President Ghani continues what he is doing right now. Mr Ghani is trying to stay in power himself," Mohammad Noor told reporters.
Ghani's election rivals have called for an interim government to be established, accusing the incumbent of misusing authority and violating the law. They have also suggested that Ghani may attempt to turn the outcome of the future election in his favor. At the same time, the president has argued that he is allowed to stay in power since the Supreme Court, the only institution authorized to make a decision on this matter, permits it.
