New Baghlan PC members take oath

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The newly-elected provincial council (PC) members of northern Baghlan province on Saturday took oath, vowing to fight corruption and ethnic discrimination.

As many as 155 individuals contested the April elections in Baghlan, with 15 of them, including three women, winning seats on the body.  Of the elected members, 11 are new faces and educated individuals.

Bismillah Attash, one of the new PC members, said his aim to contest the elections was to provide his constituents better services. “We will work as a team to ensure uniform development and fight corruption and ethnic prejudices,” said Attash, a former professor at a local university.

Acting governor Sultan Mohammad Ebadi encouraged the council members to be honest in conveying people’s demands and problems to the provincial authorities.

The previous council had some achievements, but it failed to properly share locals’ problems with the officials concerned, he added.

The previous provincial council had only three members with BA degrees, but seven members of the new council have the same qualifications.

As many as 2,600 people, including 308 women, contested the elections nationwide, with 458, including 97 women, emerging winners.

ra/ma