HERAT CITY (PAN): The Herat provincial council chief election produced no clear winner, with both runners bagging nine votes each and claiming the top slot, officials said on Monday.
Each of Dr. Abdul Zahir Faizzada and Syed Waheed Tatali won nine votes from the 19 members of the council, prompting the Independent Election Commission to announce a tie between the runners.
Faizzada insisted he had been elected in the past two elections, but this time his votes were reduced through fraud and thus he remained lawful chief of the council.
But Qatali claimed winning 11 votes, saying he was ready for an open ballot.
Some council members folded the ballot papers in a way to show candidates who they had voted for, alleged Haji Tor Mohammad Zarifi, a public representative. New members should be named for the position to resolve the dispute, he suggested.
Another public representative, Sakina Hussaini, charged she had been threatened by one candidate with dire consequences if she did not vote for him.
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