We are forced to submit ID cards: Parwan residents

CHARIKAR elections , allege a number of residents of Jabal Saraj district of central Parwan province,

On the other hand, residents of other areas of Parwan province are complaining they could not register in the voter registration process after being restricted by Taliban militants.

The voter registration process for the Oct 20 Wolesi Jirga and district council elections has been ongoing since April 14 in districts.

The voters’ Tazkiras are attached with a voter sticker based on which they can vote on the Election Day. A Wolesi Jirga candidate is required to produce Tazkiras from at least 1,000 voters and district council candidates need to 200 supporters each.

Ahmad Jawad, a resident of Jabal Saraj district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that a potential candidate ‘forcibly’ took his Tazkira and attached the voter sticker to it.

Fearing his wrath, Jawad did not name the aspirant candidate, but said he regretted registering as voter. “I did not want to give my Tazkira to the candidate but he threatened me and took it from me by force,” he said.

Another resident of the district, who wished to go unnamed, also said that some IEC workers were working for certain candidates in the town and they even took people’s Tazkiras by force.

He said the IEC workers also forced their colleagues to work in favor of strongmen and those refusing were targeted with conspiracies.

“If an IEC worker in Jabal Saraj talks about violations and fraud, he/she is fired from job,” he said.

The resident warned people’s distrust in the IEC would increase if attention was not paid to the problem in Jabal Saraj district.

Pajhwok tried to talk with Obaidullah Kazim, polling stations manager of the IEC, about the issue, but failed.

Meanwhile, Abdul Qahir Wahab Safi, IEC chief for Parwan, said that a delegation would be appointed to investigate the issue in Jabal Saraj district. He said the violators would be taken to task.

Taliban restrictions

Mohammad Massoud, a grade 12 student in Qamin Shahid High School in Tangi Lali village of Siah Gird district, said a Taliban insurgent stopped him and took his Tazkira when he was going to register as voter. “This happened just 100 meters away from the voter registration center.”

He said the Taliban allowed students to go to school but had warned them against registering as voters or they would be barred from going to school.

“But a mob came and snatched weapon from the insurgent and severely beat him and then released him after four hours of custody,” the student said.

Noor Aqa Samay, Sia Gird district chief, confirmed the incident and said local residents were worried about their security after beating the Taliban insurgent and the voter registration process had since slowed down.

He said 12 out of total 17 voter registration centers were closed in the district due to security threats.

Juma Gul, a tribal elder of Koh Safi district, also said that people were interested in elections but Taliban had threatened people with firing at them in Mandiqol, Pitab and Khak areas of the district.

Parwan police chief, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Mahfoz Walizada, confirmed the Taliban had banned people from registering as voters in areas under their control in Koh Safi, Siah Gird, Shinwari and Sheikh Ali districts.

He said that a clearing operation would be launched in the mentioned districts.

According to the IEC, 173 voter registration centers exist in Parwan.

mds/ma

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