Nangarhar forces ready to secure runoff vote

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): As tribal elders praised them for protecting voters and polling sites during the elections, security officials on Thursday said they were ready to maintain security for a second round run-off election in eastern Nangarhar province.

Hundreds of tribal elders, who gathered in Jalalabad, praised security forces for their job during the presidential and provincial council elections held on April 5.

Tribal elder Malak Darya Khan told Pajhwok that today’s gathering was attended by elders from all districts to pay tribute to security forces and government officials for their services during the elections.

He said the elections had been peaceful in much of Nangarhar and residents were ready to work alongside security forces and the government for the country’s rebuilding.

“We considered it a national responsibility to praise security forces for protecting voters and polling centres and we urge high officials that they should also commend Nangarhar forces.”

Maulvi Jan Mohammad Tarakhel, a religious scholar, said security forces had bravely performed their duty during the elections. “Security forces did their job well and the Afghans also fulfilled their responsibility by casting votes despiite threats. Our demand is that now the ballot should be held in extreme respect.”

The cleric said if the elections headed for a second round, Afghans would fully partake in the runoff.

Governor Maulvi Attaullah Ludin also praised security and government officials for their efforts to secure the elections and thanked tribal elders for honouring them.

“The elaborate arrangements by security forces, close cooperation by the media and support from elders during the polls tell us that Afghanistan is now rebuilding.”

Ludin said if the elections went to a second round, they would make efforts to make the runoff a success as they did on April 5.

The governor said the country’s enemies had tried their best to disrupt the elections in Nangarhar, but all their designs were frustrated due to strict security arrangements.

He said the masses should no longer be intimidated. The Taliban had been unable to derail the vote, but it seemed they would try to disrupt the runoff, he said.

“The government should be formed either by a 50 plus one formula or a national coalition,” the governor proposed.

Nangarhar police chief Brig. Gen. Fazl Ahmad Sherzad said the people of Nangarhar for their cooperation with security forces. He said it was their duty to protect citizens, a job they regarded as a national obligation.

He said tribal elders had been cooperating with police in their operations against miscreants. The police chief said security forces were ready to provide security for a run-off.

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