Baghdad: The Turkmen bloc in the Iraqi Parliament has publicly expressed its support for Prime Minister al-Zaydi’s directive to implement the use of a unified national identity card in upcoming elections. This move is seen as a pivotal step towards preserving the integrity of the electoral process and safeguarding the genuine will of the voters.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, MP Arshad al-Salihi, head of the Turkmen bloc, issued a statement highlighting past manipulations in Kirkuk Governorate. He pointed out the organized efforts to transfer ration cards and residency records from families outside the governorate to Kirkuk, falsely presenting them as residents to influence election outcomes.

Al-Salihi emphasized the urgent need for a thorough and comprehensive audit of the voter registry. This audit aims to identify individuals whose residency statuses have been illegitimately altered and to ensure that legal actions are taken against such practices. The ultimate goal is to guarantee that voting rights are preserved for those legitimately residing in Kirkuk, in accordance with the law.