Security situation inept to hold presidential vote: Senators

KABUL or upper house members on Sunday said the current security situation in the country was inappropriate for holding the Sept. 28 presidential elections.

Mualvi Abdullah Qarloq, Senate’s deputy chairman, told today’s session that insecurity remained the main challenge in conducting the ballot.

He said the current security situation was not appropriate for holding the polls as the highways of Takhar-Kunduz, Balkh-Jawzjan, Jawzjan-Faryab, Balkh-Sar-i-Pul and others were closed due to insecurity.

He stressed the need for free and transparent election because people would not participate in a fraudulent ballot.

Senator Anar Kali Hunaryar said that sensitive election materials had not yet reached some provinces and measures should be taken in this regard.

But the Independent Election Commission (IEC) today said that sensitive election materials had reached 33 provinces of the country.

Other members of the upper house held similar views and demanded security in the country, particularly on highways and said security was vital for the conduct of ballot.

Mohammad Alam Izedyar, first deputy chairman of the upper house who chaired today’s session, called on the government to ensure security across the country so people could cast their vote in a peaceful environment.

He said sensitive election materials should be dispatched to all provinces because the election day was not far.

Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, IEC spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News that sensitive materials had reached all provinces and centers via air and ground.

He hoped security could better on the election day so people could freely cast their vote.

sa/ma