Zabul elders back election tribunal’s verdict

 QALAT (PAN): Hundreds of people, including tribal elders, from across the southern province of Zabul held a gathering Saturday to demonstrate their support for the special election tribunal.

The tribunal, a panel of five judges, on Thursday announced its much-awaited verdict, disqualifying 62 sitting parliamentarians.

The gathering was held at the provincial council’s meeting hall in Qalat, the provincial capital. Participants asked the government to implement the court’s verdict as soon as possible.

Mohammad Musa, a tribal elder from Shah Joy district, said participants voiced their support for the court, the president and the attorney general.

He recalled that residents of the province had braved security risks to vote in last year’s parliamentary election, some at the cost of their lives. Several people had been killed and wounded in attacks by insurgents during the voting, he said.

“When the final results were announced, we thought our sacrifices had borne no fruit. But the special court showed us that the government is paying attention to our concerns,” Musa said.

Another speaker, Haji Pacha, said they were thankful to President Hamid Karzai and the attorney general for investigating irregularities in the election. He said the investigation was a gesture of respect to voters.

More than 150 tribal elders from Qalat and the districts took part in the gathering.

Azizullah, the provincial council chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the court’s decision would help resolve the ongoing political crisis in the country.

The special tribunal overturned nearly 25 percent of last year’s legislative election results on Thursday, alleging massive fraud.

Among the 62 lawmakers the tribunal disqualified from holding their seats were the Wolesi Jirga Secretary, his deputy, and the acting speaker.

ma/kg

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