by: Sharafuddin Stanikzai
A number of candidates for next year’s provincial council (PC) elections possessed “fake high school certificates” in western Herat province, the provincial education department claimed on Sunday.
Education Director Basir Arvin Tahiri told Pajhwok Afghan News a dozen of candidates were “fake degree-holders”, but named no one.
He said those possessing fake degrees were powerful and rich people, who had obtained the documents using their influence.
A spokesman for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) office in Herat, Mohammad Tariq, said they had received reports about fake degrees, but no formal complaint had so far been registered with the office in this regard. “No one can contest the elections with a fake degree.”
The election official also rejected rumours that 70 candidates had been removed from the list of contenders in Herat. He said documents of candidates had been sent to the main office in Kabul.
A resident of Herat City, the provincial capital, Shah Mohammad, said the IEC should disqualify fake-degree holders from contesting the April 5 elections. He said such people after coming in power could encourage corrupt practices.
This article was written by Sharafuddin Stanikzai and originally published on pajhwok
