Some candidates continue campaigning in silence period

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some candidates defying the election commission’s warning continued to appear in media and social media networks campaigning on Thursday despite the end of the electioneering period last night.

The 20-day campaigning period for the Wolesi Jirga elections came to an end last night. Election officials had said nobody would be allowed to campaign in the silence period.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) asked candidates not to appear in media for discussions or in events which may reflect their presence as campaign during the period of silence.

But despite the warning, some candidates continued their campaign.

Hameeda Wardak, a Wolesi Jirga candidate, from Maidan Wardak province appeared in a video this morning and thanked the people of Maidan Wardak for cooperation in her campaign and other related matters.

“I don’t want to campaign, I want to explain the result of my election campaign,” she said in a nine minutes video clip.

Wardak who indirectly encouraged the youth vote for true persons and said she respected election law and never meant to violate it.

She said Afghanistan needed a drastic change and it was possible through the youth and it was the best time for change.

Some people welcomed her video message while others termed it illegal and a violation of the election law.

Ahmad Rafi Naderi writes: “Respected Madam, you plan to go to Wolesi Jirga which is a legislative body but right now you are breaking the law.”

Hameeda Wardak on her Facebook page also encouraged people to vote for Shogufa Noorzai, a candidate from southern Helmand province.

Fazlumenallah Mumtaz, a Wolesi Jirga candidate, from Kabul today appeared in a morning show on a television and talked regarding the election law.

nh/ma

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