Sunday, April 21, 2013
Kabul (BNA) Following misconceptions and apprehensions on holding of presidential elections in 2014, a survey shows that majority of the Afghan nationals are committed to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential and provincial councils’ elections.
The survey conducted in 34 provinces of Afghanistan by a US independent institution Democracy International (DI) has reported that nearly 78% of the Afghan are heedful to cast votes in the upcoming poll. In the survey, up to four thousand Afghans were questioned and presented views regarding the political situations of the country. Talking on the topic Mohammad Sidiq Baraki, general director of Democracy International (DI) said that despite 50% of the population of the country had refused legitimacy of the previous elections. But in spite of the previous challenges, this time nearly 78% of the overall population of the country has shown willingness to participate in the upcoming presidential elections. It`s expected that the presidential and provincial councils` elections is held on 16th Hamal 1393. The US institution conducted survey at a time after independent election commission of Afghanistan has persistently expressed its concerns regarding insecurity in different parts of the country. The independent election commission of Afghanistan (IEC) has warned that if security of some risky regions weren’t handled, it would be quite different to conduct the next elections in free, fair and transparent manner. The IEC has also said that the concerned election organizing body has handled over the list of at least 7000 polling stations to the security organs of the country. In the survey, the Afghan people have urged that the election commission should prevent candidacy of those elements that have been engaged in abnormal activities in the past or have enjoyed close relations with the extremists or illegal armed groups. Mohammad Sidiq Baraki said that in the while conducting survey, ‘72% of Afghan expressed reservations over candidacy of those elements that have enjoyed relations with the armed groups. Meanwhile, national of the country have expressed hope to participate in the upcoming presidential elections and accomplish their national obligations with regard to political process of the country. This came after the people of Afghanistan experienced two rounds of elections since 2001 and are hopeful over future stability of their country.
