Kandahar youth vows to prevent electoral fraud

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): A civil society candidates in southern Kandahar province, in which activists, elders, and candidates took part.

The event at the provincial Information and Culture hall by the Youth Foundation discussed the upcoming Wolesi Jirga elections.

The participants demanded free, fair and transparent polls and pledged not to allow fraud and irregularities in the democratic exercise.

Karimzada, head of the Afghanistan Reformists Youth Society, said the free and fair election was every Afghan’s right and stressed the upcoming polls should interference-free and held on the given date.

Karimzada said the youth made a large portion of the Afghan population, they born and grew up in conflict and now wanted to decide their future themselves and would never allow others to interfere in their future. He asked the youth to vote for candidates having work plans.

He said Wolesi Jirga hopefuls’ cooperation with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) could help to ensure 50 percent transparency.

A women activist Sahar Sahel said she promised to stand against those who wanted to rig the upcoming elections in order to fulfill their illegal demands.

Rafiullah Anzoor, a journalist and writer, said it was the responsibility of the youth to prevent the elections from being stolen.

The second part of the gathering was devoted to a debate between candidates.

Candidates Dawa Khan Menapal, Abdul Rauf Azizi, Mohammad Ibrahim Alkozai and Syed Ahmad Selab took part in the debate.

Menapal, who represents Kuchi tribe, said he welcomed the government step to introduce biometric system in elections.

Another candidate Syed Ahmad Selab talked about some health-related issues and demanded proper work and strategy in the parliament to address the issue.

nh/ma

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