Insecurity biggest challenge to polls: IEC

KABUL) on Monday identified insecurity and lack of awareness among people as the biggest challenges to transparent elections.

IEC Secretary Ziaul Haq Amarkhel told a public awareness gathering that the commission was all prepared for conducting the April 2014 presidential and provincial council polls.

“The IEC has arranged programmes for public awareness in the lead-up to the upcoming ballot but efforts need to be expanded to villages and towns of the country,” he said.

Support from the people, civil society organisations, political parties, tribal elders and religious leaders was required to push efforts for free and fair polls, he explained.

Gulalai Achakzai, another official of the IEC, underlined the need for greater role for women in the election process. She urged females to play an active role in the democratic exercise.

Hamidi Wardak, a civil society activist, believed that public awareness and enhanced security would make the elections a success.

rm/mud

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