By NASIBA ALIMYAAR

The Wolesi Jirga election campaign has entered its second month and Kabul nominees say their campaigns are being hampered by restrictions.

In past elections candidates littered the capital with literature, including posters that were posted on public and private property. Nominees argue that print literature is the cheapest and most effective form of public outreach especially among non-literate voters who can recognize candidates by their photos and ballot symbols.

This year, the Independent Election Commission imposed new restrictions on public posting. Candidates were warned not to distribute posters and other print literature in prohibited areas - which spans all areas except for dedicated sites. 

To deal with the restrictions many candidates started taping posters to their cars. In response the Interior Ministry announced that the posters were a security threat worse than tinted windows.

Earlier this year the MOI banned cars with black tinted windows, with the exception of official embassy, military or government vehicles. The move has reduced crime in the city, according to anecdotal reports.

Police officers have been stopping cars with posters and tearing the down.

MP Shukria Barakzai, who is running for reelection, has put up posters in her car. 

 "The MOI hasn't made it clear why the posters are a security threat," she said. "We don't know if the posters pose a threat, or if our pictures are the real threat.

Barekzai said she believes the police is trying to restrict candidates.

"When there are more than 700 nominees in one city how can we all have equal access to the limited number of billboards around the capital," she added.

Candidate Ahmad Tamim Raheb said he acknowledge the challenge for security forces.

"But the government and IEC should also recognize the problems facing nominees," he added. "Some of us can't afford to print huge billboards, which is why we printed small posters, but we can't distribute them because of the municipality's restriction on public posting."

Raheb is opposed to the MOI decision to ban posters from vehicles.

Ministry officials argue that police officers can't see the inside of vehicles when they're covered with posters, said MOI spokesman Najib Nekzad.

According to Nekzad, the MOI's ban does not mean that the ministry doesn't trust the nominees. 

"It's possible for insurgents and smugglers to misuse campaign posters to  screen their vehicles from police," he added. "We can't let that happen. If they're caught, it will also bring bad press to the candidate whose posters were used."

Traffic police say candidates are allowed to paste posters on the car, but not on windows.

Kabul Municipality officials are reporting that they will make more public space available for candidates to post their posters.

"We will soon install at least 100 more billboards for the nominees," said Rahila Kohistani, the municipality's cultural director.

Meanwhile, IEC and ECC officials say candidates who violate the ban on posting on public and private property will be fined. To date, complaints have been filed against 50 nominees, and more than 120 have violated the ban.