Wednesday, April 02, 2014
Kabul (BNA) Majority of the people of Afghanistan by receiving the voting cards want to confront the Taliban and their collaborators through a democratic process.
The recent attacks of Taliban and other terrorist organizations haven’t demoralized the Afghan people sprit to boycott the elections. People are now more energetic and their commitments have further nourished to vote in the election and mark the destiny of their motherland.
Only four days have remained to the timeline for holding of presidential and provincial councils’ elections and the people are more enthusiastic to commute to the polling booths and vote.
Mass crowds of Kabul residents this week have waited hours to register their name for voting in Saturday’s election, but long lines have not done much hinder the spirits of potential voters who say participation in this year’s election is a way of opposing those who threaten their country’s wellbeing.
For the past few days Afghans have lined up long before registration centers open at 8AM in hopes of getting their cards quickly.
But the crowds have not let up as the days wear on, with long lines stretching out registration offices until closing time at 4PM.
The large turnout at registration centers bodes well for participation in Saturday’s presidential and provincial councils elections, though it comes as somewhat of a surprise given the steady stream of militant attacks that have plagued Kabul over the past few days. For many Afghans, the uptick in violence seems to have had the opposite effects from that insurgents intended.
“These suicide bombings and explosions are by the enemies of Afghanistan, and registration to vote is a strong step against them,” said Arzo Hashemi, a Kabul resident in line to receive her voting card on Sunday.
“I am here to get my voting card and I am not afraid of anyone,” another Kabul resident named Zahra said.
People of all ages were waiting in line to register on Sunday.
Tela Begum and Seema were two elderly women who waited in the ling line for hours to get their voting cards.
Although they were decades older than many of the others in line, they felt they had an equal right and responsibility to help determine their country’s future.
The presidential vote on Saturday will mark Afghanistan’s first democratic transition of presidential power in history.
Kabul residents have asked the IEC to increase the number of registration centers to avoid long waiting times.
Currently there are 41 registration centers throughout the country that will be open until Wednesday. Each center has two stations- one for men and one for women.
Saturday’s election have got major significant to Afghanistan and world community to continue bilateral cooperation between Afghanistan and international community beyond 2014 when foreign forces set to evacuate the country after a decade long efforts against militancy and terrorism.
2014 elections will start a new chapter between Afghanistan and the world. International community has asked the government of Afghanistan to work hard and use all available sources to conduct the elections in free and fair manner.
Recently, the UN special representative to Afghanistan assured that there won’t be discontinuity to international financial assistance to Afghanistan post-2014 and asked the government to help the elections be conducted in transparent way.
Few months back a high ranking official from the UNAMA and UN Secretary General Special Envoy who also deals the UN cooperation to Afghanistan Nicolas Heism has was warned any fraud and illegitimacy in the polling could harm international cooperation of Afghanistan after 2014 and the UN assistance could be overshadowed which will leave damaging consequences on the county.
Elections are part of the important aspects of democracy and the democratic process which allow the general public to use their democratic rights and selected the leader of their country through a democratic process.
