New faces find way to Nuristan, Kunar councils

JALALABAD/ASADABAD (Pajhwok): None of former provincial council members in eastern Nuristan and Kunar provinces could win reelection bids and have been succeeded by new faces.

In Nuristan, the winners are Khalilullah, Abdul Latif Nazhat Yar, Mohammad Zahir Nuristani, Saeedullah Paindazai, Maulvi Zeenatullah Wafa, Alhaj Khushal Atikan, Maulvi Omar Farooq Qanuni, Bibi Atifa Nuristani and Bibi Zainab.

Former Nuristan council chief Inayat Rahman Mazhabyar told Pajhwok Afghan News there had been brazen fraud and irregularities in Nuristan than other provinces in the April elections.

“Both winning and losing candidates have committed fraud, with some succeeding and others failing,” said Mazhabyar, who urged the council-elect to make efforts at drawing the central government’s attention toward the backward province.

He said the new council should work hard to monitor all affairs of the provincial administration and should use their contacts and influential to convince the central government into initiating big development projects in the mountainous province as part of their service to the people.

Rafiqullah, a resident of Paroon, the provincial capital, said the outgoing council was a so-called body of public representatives, a majority of whom had been living in Nangarhar and Kabul.

He said all the new members were new faces and if they wanted to be reelected in future, they should honestly discharge their responsibilities and work for the wellbeing of their constituents.

One of the winning runners, Khushal Atikan, told Pajhwok Afghan News that they would try their level best to serve the people. “Our aim to contest the election was to do service to the people and now when we have won, our solo goal is to serve,” he said.

He confirmed all those making it to the council were new faces, saying they would work as a team to resolve problems facing residents of districts.

Former council member Amanullah Inayatur Rahman said he had served the people within his authority and ability and would not comment about his colleagues who had failed to serve their constituents.

The people of Nuristan have long been complaining that most of the council members were living in Kabul and Nangarhar and were reluctant to visit the province for months.

In Kunar, nine provincial council candidates have been declared winners, including two women, in the long-delayed final results.

The winners include none from the previous members. Independent Election Commission official in Kunar Sadatullah Mirza told Pajhwok Afghan News six former members of the council had lost their reelection bid and another three abstained from contesting the polls.

A total of 39 people, including six women, had nominated themselves but four of them were barred from contesting the April 5 elections, he recalled.

Qazafimal, a resident of Asadabad, is happy that young and educated have found their way to the council. He believed the new council would serve the people in a better way unlike the previous council. He said people were clever and knew who could and who could not deliver.

Another resident, Mohammad Tahir, said the new members should honour their campaign pledges if they wanted to be successful in future elections as well.

A former member of the council, Toorpekai Rassouli, strongly criticised the election commission for failing to transparently hold the polls and prevent anomalies.

She told Pajhwok she had lodged her complaints regarding fraud in the elections with the watchdog but there had been no action. She alleged some of the female winning candidates had fake education degrees.

ma/mud