A tribal leader told the world media that none of the men and women of his tribe went to the polling booths to cast votes. And yet Hamid Karzai reportedly polled 30,000 votes from there. One wonders where these votes came from if the registered voters abstained from exercising their right of franchise. Obviously, these are the 'phantom votes' the international media is talking about. A leading news channel of Europe claims that it conducted independent investigations into complaints of frauds and intimidation of voters and found that these were not baseless.

The accusing fingers point at Hamid Karzai for manipulating bogus voting. It is in the Southern Afghanistan that his supporters of the Pashtun tribes live and work. It is from that region that most of the complaints against gross irregularities in the election process emanate. In the Northern areas where Abdullah Abdullah comes from and where his support base is, there are no serious complaints against misuse of the election process.

Apparently, the formal declaration of election results will have to wait till these grievances are redressed and complaints of serious nature fully investigated. When there are complaints and cross complaints, it takes longer for the investigating agencies to come to a reasonable conclusion. The verdict that the impartial authority gives should be beyond the shadow of doubt. Indeed, legal luminaries of international repute will handle the matter at final stages and officials functioning in the election commission under the aegis of the United Nations, will care for the name of the world body before pronouncing their verdict.

We shall not hazard a guess this way or that way about the final outcome of investigations. When we, unattached observers, reach the bridge, we will cross it.