Anti-graft marathon organised in Kabul

KABUL): Hundreds of youth on Friday participated in a five-kilometre marathon in Kabul to create awareness among the masses against corruption in the country, organisers said.

Arranged by the Afghan Anti-Corruption Network, the race started from the Allahuddin area on Darul Aman road and culminated in the Babar Turbine locality.

Beginning at 10am, the event that lasted one hour ended without any untoward incident. Ahmad Sharif Omari, 24, won the race, Ayamuddin, 19, finished second and Aimal Ibrahimi (26) third.

Omari told Pajhwok Afghan News he had been a racing enthusiast since childhood and had gone through tough practice for the event. “When the race started, my happiness was overshadowed by fear whether I will be able to win,” remarked the man, who covered the distance in 14 minutes.

The winner and runner-up received laptops, while the third position-holder was gifted a DVD player by the Nabizada Charity.

Organiser Mohammad Tariq said they had registered participants for the event three days ago. The participants were selected through a ballot, he added. The aim of the race was to create awareness against endemic corruption, especially in the public sector.

Mostly young people attended the race because youth could play an effective role in combating graft in the society, the organiser said.

The Afghan Anti-corruption Network head, Mohammad Shafique Hamdam, said enthusiasm among the youth showed they wanted an end to the menace.

“The race is a step toward cleansing Afghan society of corruption,” he said, adding the network was not an executive body, but it was trying to create awareness among people about their rights.

ma/mud

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