PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Hundreds of residents from Doshi district of northern Baghlan province on Tuesday visited the governor’s house here and demanded fresh elections in their areas after thousands failed to cast their votes due to insecurity.
One of the residents, Arbab Abdul Wahab Shinwari, told Pajhwok Afghan News that 13,000 people had registered to vote in the Wolesi Jirga elections, but a majority of them were unable to vote to security concerns.
He said voting was their right and the government must facilitate them to cast their votes.
Another protestor, Haji Abdul Ghiwor Safi, accused security forces of failing to put in place enough security arrangements on the Election Day in their district.
“The threat from Taliban on the Election Day was not as serious in Kilagai area of the district as the Afghan forces were firing.”
A number of other protestors expressed similar views and called for fresh elections in their district.
Governor Abdul Hai Niamati also confirmed many people missed voting in the province. He said if the law allowed, it would be better to conduct the elections again in the province.
Meanwhile, provincial police chief Col. Ikramuddin Sareh told Pajhwok that Baghlan witnessed more attacks than other provinces on the election day.
He said eight polling stations in Kela Gega area were under high security threat and could not be opened on the second day of voting (Sunday).
He said police were ready to provide security if the election commission reopened polling sites for people.
In this regard, Independent Election Commission chief for Baghlan Abdul Qahir Wahab said he had shared people’s demand with the main office for a solution.
In Baghlan, 22 polling stations remained shut on the election day owing to security threats. There were a total of 199 polling stations in the province.
pk/ma
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