Voter cards demanded for Gizab dwellers

NEILI (Pajhwok): Three thousand people have signed an open letter calling on the government to issue voter registration cards to residents of Gizab district and increase the number of polling stations in central Daikundi province.

In the letter, civil society activists said voter cards had not been distributed to Gizab residents, who would not be able to exercise their franchise right in the April elections.

Suhrab Saroosh, the Daikundi Civil Society Network chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News copies of the letter would be sent to the president, the Independent Election Commission (IEC (FIFA).

He said voter cards were yet to be issued to the people of Gizab and the election commission seemed to have no intention to do so.

But Sughra Attayee, Daikundi IEC office head, said Gizab belonged to Uruzgan province, not Daikundi.

However, Gizab is 10 kilometres south of Neili, the capital city of Daikundi.

Attayee conceded the 174 polling centres, comprising 563 polling stations, in Daikundi were inadequate.

Deputy Governor Habibullah Radmanish confirmed the concerns of civil society. He said roads would possibly be closed on the election day if it was raining or snowfall.

aa/ma