Over 1,100 polling stations at high security risk

KABUL): Based on the latest report from the Ministry of Interior, 1,100 of the 6,800 sensitive polling stations across the country are at a high security risk while the fate of another 259 remains uncertain.

Brig. Gen. Mohammad Salim Ihsas, the head of police affairs at the ministry, said plans detailing duties and powers of security agencies had been shared with different government departments.

Speaking at a coordination conference, he said 3,435 polling stations were in normal condition while 945 faced a low security threat.

Ihsas added an evaluation of the law and order situation by police and other agencies revealed 1,074 polling stations were facing a medium security threat and 1,132 were highly vulnerable.

The assessment suggests 259 polling stations cannot be made functional due to Taliban’s presence in different areas. Under a presidential decree, he said, police were responsible for the security of election staff, observers, monitors and media representatives.

Gen. Ihsas added different agencies had been directed to ensure the security of presidential and provincial candidates, as well as election offices and employees in far-flung areas.

Voter registration materials have been dispatched to all districts except Ala Sayee, Baghran, Deshu, Nawa and Deh Chopan. The failure was linked to a strong insurgent presence in the restive district.

Earlier, the Independent Election Commission had announced a halt to the voter registration process in certain districts of Uruzgan, Helmand, Ghazni, Kapisa, Nuristan and Paktika provinces due to poor security.

Gen. Ihsas said 2.5 million people had received their vote registration cards since the launch of the process on May 26. The campaign will run for another month. About four million eligible individuals are expected to get voter cards.

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