Nuristan governor spurns allegations against him

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some residents of eastern Nuristan province on Tuesday accused the provincial governor of interfering in the electoral affairs and Tazkira (ID cards) distribution process, a claim the top official rejected.

Voter registration and Tazkira distribution processes have been ongoing in rural areas in the lead up to the Oct 20 Wolesi Jirga and district council elections.

Provincial council members accused the Nuristan governor, Hafiz Abdul Qayum, of interfering in the election affairs and the ID cards distribution during a press conference in capital Kabul.

Amanullah, secretary of the council, said the governor had directed sending a limited number of Tazkira distribution teams to Bargamtal, Kamdish, Waigal, Norgram, Doab and Mandol districts.

He said Tazkira distribution workers, who should have worked in the mentioned districts, were instead sent to other areas.

“The governor is trying to prevent or affect the voter registration process in the six districts so people there are unable to get voter cards and participate in elections”, Amanullah alleged.

He said 20,000 ID cards had been distributed in the provincial capital, Paroon, and Wama district where only 3,000 people were eligible to vote.

However, Nuristan governor, Hafiz Abdul Qayum, rejected the allegations and said some figures were out to defame him and hatch conspiracies against him.

He said the Tazkira Authority transferred 33,000 paper ID cards to Nuristan and 90 percent of them had been distributed in the provincial capital and districts so far. Qayum said he will complain to the judiciary organs about the allegations leveled against him.

mds/ma

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