Kunaris want poll results announced forthwith

ASADABAD (Pajhwok): Businessmen and common people in eastern Kunar province have urged the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to announce final results from the June presidential runoff election at the earliest.

They say the prolonged delay in releasing the election results has created distrust among people about the elections.

The announcement would help check the growing corruption in government departments and would save the country from further violence and economic decline, they believe.

Syed Azim Khan, a member of the traders’ union in Asadabad, the provincial capital, told Pajhwok Afghan News that businesses had adversely affected by the political standoff in Kunar.

He said everyone wanted the election results to be announced in order to end the political crisis and allow businesses to prosper.

“Earlier, I would bring two trucks loaded with commercial goods, which would be sold out in a few days. It has been more than three weeks, I have brought the same quantity goods, but there is no one buy them,” the trader said.

He urged the election commission to announce the election results so that the people could get a sigh of relief.

A cobbler in Asadabad, Ghulam Habib, said his earning had reduced to 400 Pakistan rupees a day from the earlier 1200 rupees due to increasing unemployment and the lack of hustle and bustle in the city.

Resident Malang Salim said people were fed up with the long-drawn-out electoral process and now they regretted going to polls.

“Results of elections are known in one or two days in other countries, but there is no sign of results from our elections held six months ago.”

He said people across the country would continue to suffer until the election results were announced.

A resident of the Sarkano district, Mohammad Ismail, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the electoral impasse had a negative impact on the security situation.

He said rocket attacks from Pakistan into Kunar had increased and security incidents occurred in the provincial capital as well.

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