Kabul, January 25: Afghanistan Election Commission on Sunday announced for postponement of Parliamentary elections scheduled for May 22nd on account of shortage of funds and lack of security in the country.
Addressing a press conference in Kabul on Sunday, election commissioner Fazel Ahmed Manawi said the elections will now be held on September 18. He said the delay will allow time for electoral reforms.
The announcement comes in wake of several western countries reservation over May elections on the ground that reforms are needed to avoid repetition of alleged irregularities committed during last year Presidential elections.
The United Nations is having funds in an account to pay for elections, but officials say they would not have allowed those funds to be released unless Afghanistan carried out reforms first.
Meanwhile, seven civilians were killed and another sustained injuries as a bomb, left over from the past years of war went off in northern Faryab province.
A statement of Interior Ministry released on Sunday said the tragic incident occurred in Qaisar district on Friday when residents found a big bomb and wanted to move it to a safe place, but it suddenly exploded, leaving seven people dead.
—Agencies