Zero tolerance to electoral fraud: Abdullah

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential contender Dr. Abdullah Abudllah on Thursday accused the government of interference into the elections by facilitating meetings among presidential hopefuls.

Abdullah, who finished second behind President Karzai in the 2009 elections, declared zero tolerance to any electoral fraud and called on the masses to take active part in the Aril 5 ballot and foil attempts at manipulating the outcome.

Mohammad Mohaqiq, Abdullah’s vice-presidential candidate, said the Presidential Palace had been hosting a number of candidates to enter alliances to pave the ground for a particular candidate to succeed.

He warned the government against meddling in the polls, saying the people be allowed to freely choose their leader.

Abdullah’s warning comes after a 170-member delegation representing all provinces held a gathering to broker an alliance between Zalmai Rasoul and Abdul Qayyum Karzai.

A day earlier, Aimal Faizi, presidential spokesman, said election candidates had been visiting President Hamid Karzai at their own will and they were never invited to meetings.

He said a number of candidates had demanded meetings with the president. His remarks come after reports that presidential runners have been visiting the Presidential Palace to enter alliances.

Faizi said the president had never invited any candidate to discuss with him the elections, but candidates had themselves demanded seeing Karzai.

The President had been neutral during the entire elections process and he warned government officials would face action if they interfered in the ballot, he concluded.

nh/rm/ma

Views: 2