Rumours being spread about polls: Ikram

JALALABAD (PAN Secretary Syed Ikram has said rumours about a possible delay or change in next year’s election schedule are being spread by the country’s enemies.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News during an exclusive interview the April 5 presidential and provincial council elections would take place as scheduled at any cost.

He said those spreading negative propaganda in this regard wanted to mislead the masses and create uncertainty because they were against seeing a bright future for Afghanistan.

“The elections will be held. It is not possible that the vote will not take pace. However, there can be a possibility of a month or so delay in case there were some technical problems.”

The lower house secretary said the voter registration process was ongoing in various provinces, but at a slow pace, insisting no Afghan should be missed from obtaining voter card in order to pave the ground for a huge turnout.

However, he said if the registration process remained slow, it would deprive many Afghans of their right to vote.

“The upcoming elections are very important, we all have to take part in the democratic exercise,” Ikram stressed, calling next year crucial to determining Afghanistan’s fate.

Though the interior and defence ministries have assured elaborate security arrangements across the country for the polls, yet residents in some remote parts complain about insecurity which they fear could undermine the elections, Ikram said.

“Insecurity cannot prevent the elections from taking place. We have a strong army and should not worry.”

He said there were also rumours that some candidates had foreign backing and foreigners would interfere in the elections. Ikram said all such rumours were baseless and aimed at misleading Afghans. He said a candidate who had the backing of the masses would make it to the presidency.

“No one can interfere in the elections. Such things should be removed from mind. Everyone who gets the most votes will be the winner,” he said.

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