Ready for June 14 fray: Frontrunners

KABUL (Pajhwok): Both frontrunners Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Thursday welcomed the final results from the presidential vote, saying they were all poised for the second round.

Abdullah told reporters the polls had gone to the runoff stage due to problems in addressing complaints and vote tallying. He called for reforms in the two electoral institutions for reasons of transparency.

Confident to win the election with people’s support, the ex-foreign minister hoped for high turnout in the runoff. Fraud would undermine international efforts to stabilise Afghanistan, he warned.

By the same token, Dr. Ghani Ahmadzai asserted his readiness for the second round. He spurned his rival’s warnings, saying people should be allowed to freely exercise their democratic right to vote.

He urged the prosecution of election workers, some governors and security officials for their complicity in rigging during the first round. He hoped President Hamid Karzai would remain impartial and at the same time ensure his administration’s neutrality.

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