Afghan SC extends Ghani’s term until poll

Kabul, April 21

Afghanistan’s Supreme Court has extended the term of President Ashraf Ghani until delayed elections take place, an official said on Sunday, resolving for now the question of what would happen after his term expires on May 22.

Presidential elections were initially slated for April 20, but Afghan poll officials were unprepared for a new nationwide vote so soon after the October parliamentary elections.

With some final results from that election still pending, the presidential poll was delayed until July 20, then pushed back again until September 28.

Ariana News published a statement from the court saying it “has extended the service term of President Ghani until the re-election of a new President”.

“The Supreme Court understands the financial, security and logistical challenges faced by the election commission.” While the court did not make the statement public, Faraidoon Khwazoon, the deputy spokesman to Afghan chief kexecutive Abdullah Abdullah, confirmed it, noting that Abdullah's term had also been extended. “Yes, the SC has made its decision, based on the constitution, on the extension of the service term of the President,” Khwazoon said, adding the extension would last “until the re-election of the new President”. Ghani’s office could not immediately be reached for comment. — AFP