Monday, August 19, 2013
Kabul (BNA): following speculations and controversy over security of 2014 presidential and provincial councils’ elections, the officials in the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) have said that despite the security assurances sought by the Afghan security institutions, up to 259 polling centers in various regions of the country would be shut down due to security threats.
The IEC has already submitted list of at least 6845 polling centers to the security institutions and from the overall number up to 259 polling booths have been declared risky and under serious security dangers.
The election security plan finalized couple of days before. But, the IEC has said that 259 polling centers would be closed in various areas in the provinces of Ghazni, Sar-e-Pul, Helmand, Zabul, Parwan, Kapisa, Kunar and Nuristan.
Elaborating on the election security, head of the secretariat of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) said, “There are some areas in the mentioned provinces where security threats are much high and we can’t put ballot box in those areas due to security risks”.
“Last week the security institutions shared their information about the election security with the IEC, the security officials said that 259 polling stations are facing serious security threats and it’s a major responsibility on shoulder of the security forces, head of IEC secretariat Ziaulhaq Amarkhail said”.
The head of IEC secretariat said that the upcoming presidential and provincial councils elections have major important of future stability of Afghanistan and all available sources should be used to ensure safety of the election and provide peaceful environment to the Afghans to cast ballots in the election and mark destiny of the country in the meantime, the Ministry of Interior has said that comprehensive security measures have been formulated and ANSF will ensure security of another 259 polling stations that are facing threats from the insurgents.
Commenting on the topic, Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman to the Ministry of Interior said that the National Police (NP) force is currently working on verity of security programs and we assure the nation to provide security coverage to the 259 polling stations before the election timeline.
Meanwhile, a number of political parties and political coalitions have strongly supported on time holding of the presidential and provincial councils elections and urge that government of Afghanistan should accelerate efforts for providing foolproof security coverage to the upcoming presidential elections.
Talking on the matter, head of executive body of The Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) said that the security institutions should pursue a clear stance on the issue of election security.
Talking on the topic, Sahib Nazar Muradi advisor to first vice president said that there is no any other option except holding of the presidential elections on its scheduled time, we had some challenges during the previous elections as well and Taliban were dominating on different districts, but now the ground scenario is totally changed and war capabilities of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have increased and they can suppress the enemy easily.
Meanwhile, nationals of the country are interpreting the upcoming elections from positive perspectives and they urge upon the government to undertake all out efforts so that riggings and violations prevented in the elections.
“The people of Afghanistan expect that holding of the presidential elections on it due time will lead the country towards sustainable democracy and economic opulence and government is obliged to provide satisfactory security to the elections, local resident Farhad said”.
This came after the previous elections followed major criticism from different political factions as IEC recorded several cases of riggings and corruptions in different areas due to insecurity.
