Many fail to exercise franchise

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some people in capital Kabul and northern Sar-i-Pul province complained of long queues in front of polling stations, saying many had to return home without casting their votes.

They asked for more polling stations to easily participate in elections. The Pajhwok reporter in Sar-i-Pul province said thousands queued up in front of three polling stations in the provincial capital.  

Gunfire was heard, but no one was scared away. A number of voters left the polling stations without voting after several hours of wait.  

Nasima Arzo, the Samangan women’s affairs director, said several women called her and complained of long queues at polling stations. Women could not wait for hours, she added.  

Sabira, an Azizi Bank employee in Sar-i-Pul, said she went from one polling station to another in an attempt to cast her vote but in vain.   

On the other hand, provincial IEC officials said rains caused a delay in opening centres.

Pajhwok reporter in the seventh municipality district of Kabul said people were waiting in long queues. Abdul Munir, a voter, said he had come there from another polling center, but in vain.   

If the authorities concerned did not pay attention to the problem, many people would return home without casting their votes, he feared.  

Lailuma, in charge of the polling station in 17^th municipality district, said she had asked the IEC to plan 25 polling stations but her request was ignored and only eight stations were opened.

ra/mud

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