Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) Weekly Election Coverage Newsletter, Feb.26-04 March

Ready to render any sacrifice for peace: Ghani Sherzai vows peace, justice, accountability By Shams Jalal Feb 26, 2014 - 18:28 By Bashir Ahmad Naadim Feb 26, 2014 - 20:33

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Leading presidential runner KANDAHAR/KHOST (Pajhwok): A gathering was held in Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Wednesday said he would support of presidential candidate Mohammad Shafique Gul take serious steps to bring about peace and stability to Agha Sherzai in southern Kandahar province, where a if elected as president in the April elections. campaign office for another runner Dr. Abdullah Abdullah Addressing a rally of thousands of people in Lashkargah, was inaugurated on Wednesday. Ghani said he was ready to render any sacrifice for peace The gathering in Sherzai’s support was held at the Ahmad and security. Shahi playground in Kandahar City, the provincial capital. “Trust me, my leadership will represent the people and Besides Sherzai and his two running mates, thousands of there will be no favoritism. All responsibilities will be people, including women and tribal elders, were in bestowed on professional individuals.” attendance. Sherzai, a former Nangarhar and Kandahar The former finance minister promised he would spare no governor, said he would make peace with the rebels, ensure effort in combating administrative corruption and ensuring good governance and bring about judicial reforms if a better and judicious form of government if he won the elected to power in the April elections. ballot. Advanced religious and modern educational He said there were governor’s houses, which had been institutes would be established so that the Afghans unable to serve the masses, citing Daikundi as an example avoided going to foreign countries for education, he in this regard, saying even a kilometre road could not be said. “I will pay special attention to the construction of constructed in the central province over the past 12 years. Kajaki hydropower dam and will find market for cotton If voted to power, Sherzai promised he would pay special produced in Helmand and other provinces.” The former attention to reconstruction projects and would hold World Bank employee said his economic plan mostly ministers accountable failing to perform their tasks. focused on development projects, infrastructure and Elders representing various tribes addressed the gathering mines’ development. and declared their support to Sherzai. “Women would enjoy all rights enshrined in Islam. They It was for the first time a presidential candidate attended a can vote and seek education and jobs in offices,” Ghani campaign rally in Kandahar since the electioneering began said. His chief campaigner in Helmand, lawmaker Abdul on Feb. 2. Zahir Qadir urged the gathering to vote for Ghani for the Meanwhile, a campaign office for Dr. Abdullah was sake of an effective government. Tribal elder Haji Shah inaugurated in Kandahar City. campaigner for Abdullah in Agha said the people of Helmand had realised the the southern zone, Abdul Khaliq Kandahari, and other importance of vote and they would make no mistake. attended the inaugural ceremony. Kandahari told Pajhwok they were thankful to the security Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/26/ready- forces for maintaining their security, but the forces were render-any-sacrifice-peace-ghani required to stay neutral during the election process. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/26/sherzai-vows-peace- justice-accountability

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Karzai never invited candidates to meetings: Faizi By Hakim Basharat Feb 26, 2014 - 18:14 Support to Ahmadzai swells in Khost By Mohammad Haroon Feb 27, 2014 - 16:18 KABUL (Pajhwok): Election candidates have been visiting President Hamid Karzai at their own will and they were KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Thousands of people, mostly never invited to meetings, a presidential spokesman said on youth, held a gathering in southeastern Khost province, Wednesday. Aimal Faizi told Pajhwok Afghan News a vowing support to front-line presidential candidate Ashraf number of candidates had demanded meetings with the Ghani Ahmadzai. president. His remarks come after reports that presidential Arranged by a youth organization in direct cooperation runners have been visiting the Presidential Palace to enter with lawmakers from the province, the gathering was alliances. A jirga in this regard has reportedly taken place attended by around 2,500 people in Khost City, the and its members met with President Karzai a few days ago. provincial capital. One of the organizers, Ilyas Wihdat, Faizi said the president had never invited any candidate to said the youth were a section of the society more discuss with him the elections, but candidates had them- enthusiastic to take part in the April elections than others. selves demanded seeing Karzai. He called on the participants to encourage others to He said the president respected all candidates and thus his actively participate in the elections and cast their votes in agreement to meet everyone desiring so. favour of Ahmadzai, a former finance minister. To a question, Faizi said President Karzai had not called on Wihdat believed Ahmadzai had the ability to steer the any presidential candidate to renounce his candidacy in country out of crises and put the nation on the path to a favour of any particular rival. bright future. All meetings between Karzai and candidates had taken Humayun Humayun, a member of the Wolesi Jirga’s place in line with the latter’s desire because the President defence commission, who campaigns for Ahmadzai in believed the April elections were crucial and sensitive. Khost, said the upcoming elections were crucial to However, Faizi did not name candidates individually shaping the country’s density. meeting with Karzai. But a spokesman for presidential “Ashraf Ghani has not been involved in corruption, has no candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Fazl Rahman Orya, said blood on hands of innocent people. He is more learned several meetings had taken place between Abdullah and and intelligent among the list of 11 candidates.” Karzai and there had been only one meeting wished by the Civil society activist Zahid Shah Angar told the gathering former foreign minister. that the society supported Ahmadzai. He said the latest meeting between the two took place 25 Journalist and writer Najibullah Alokhel in his address to days ahead of the launch of electioneering that started on the gathering said Afghanistan needed a person who could Feb. 2. When asked campaign workers for another leading pull it out of troubles, develop it and assist its orphaned candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in this regard, they said children. He said Afghanistan was in the most critical the meetings had been requested by the Presidential Palace. phase of its history and if the Afghans were able to do One of them Abbas Noyan said Ahmadzai and Karzai held away with corruption and choose right leadership, they the latest meeting two days ago, but stopped short of going could salvage the country, otherwise they should be ready into details. for further misfortunes. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/26/karzai-never- http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/27/support-ahmadzai- invited-candidates-meetings-faizi swells-khost

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Zero tolerance to electoral fraud: Abdullah Sherzai to build Kajaki dam if elected By Muhammad Hassan Khitab Feb 27, 2014 - 16:55 By Shams Jalal Feb 28, 2014 - 16:52

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential contender Dr. Abdullah LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Presidential contender Abudllah on Thursday accused the government of Mohammad Shafiq has promised he interference into the elections by facilitating meetings will strive hard to ensure peace, expedite development among presidential hopefuls. projects in the country and specifically build the Kajaki Abdullah, who finished second behind President Karzai in power dam if he wins the April 5 ballot. the 2009 elections, declared zero tolerance to any electoral Around 3,000 participants with 300 of them female fraud and called on the masses to take active part in the attended the gathering addressed by Sherzai in Lashkar- Aril 5 ballot and foil attempts at manipulating the outcome. gah, the provincial capital of southern Helmand on Mohammad Mohaqiq, Abdullah’s vice-presidential Friday. The current peace process spearheaded by the candidate, said the Presidential Palace had been hosting a government was a failed attempt, he said, pledging he number of candidates to enter alliances to pave the ground would form a Jirga with a task to convince the warring for a particular candidate to succeed. parties to shun fighting in larger interests of the country He warned the government against meddling in the polls, and nation. saying the people be allowed to freely choose their leader. He would leave no stone unturned to explore job Abdullah’s warning comes after a 170-member delegation opportunities for the people even with his own expenses. representing all provinces held a gathering to broker an Around $300 million were allocated by the US for the alliance between Zalmai Rasoul and Abdul Qayyum construction of the vital Kajaki dam but work on the Karzai. important project could not be initiated. A day earlier, Aimal Faizi, presidential spokesman, said The official said the Kajaki dam, with its two turbines election candidates had been visiting President Hamid operational, was producing 33 megawatts of electricity. In Karzai at their own will and they were never invited to consultation with Kandahar officials, 12 megawatts was meetings. being supplied to Kandahar City and six megawatts to He said a number of candidates had demanded meetings Lashkargah, four megawatts to Sangin, two megawatts to with the president. His remarks come after reports that Kajaki, and nine megawatts to Musa Qala and some parts presidential runners have been visiting the Presidential of the Kajaki district. Palace to enter alliances. He said a generator producing 400 kilowatts of electricity Faizi said the president had never invited any candidate to had been installed in Lashkargah for supplying electricity discuss with him the elections, but candidates had 24 hours to government departments. themselves demanded seeing Karzai. If elected as president, Sherzai promised he would focus The President had been neutral during the entire elections to accelerate work on several projects and build industrial process and he warned government officials would face zones in the province. He promised to protect women action if they interfered in the ballot, he concluded. rights and appoint committed and efficient officials on key government posts to control corruption. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/27/zero- Attaullah, a tribal elder from Naway district, announced tolerance-electoral-fraud-abdullah to support Sherzai who was a man of principles and had the capabilities to steer the country out of crisis. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/28/sherzai-build- kajaki-dam-if-elected

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The roadside bomb ripped through the vehicle of Abdullah’s campaign team chief in Faryab, General Farooq, in the Almar district late on Friday, said Ghulam Sakhi Naveed, the campaign team’s deputy chief. He told Pajhwok Afghan News one of their team members was killed and another wounded in the attack. But police chief Col. Tooryalai Abdyani said the dead and the wounded did not belong to Abdullah’s campaign team, saying they were illegal gunmen. One gunman was killed and another wounded when a roadside bomb struck their motorcycle, he said. A month ago, two members of Abdullah’s campaign team Jirga fails to forge Qayyum-Rassoul alliance were killed by unidentified gunmen in western Herat By Meer Agha Nasrat Samimi Feb 28, 2014 - 20:05 province. A week later of that incident, an influential individual, who KABUL (Pajhwok): A jirga has failed to convince two had been campaigning for Abdullah in Sar-i-Pul province, presidential candidates --- Abdul Qayyum Karzai and was killed. Zalmai Rassoul --- into forming alliance by renouncing Link:http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/01/another-campaigner one’s candidacy in favour of the other. -abdullah-killed Jirga members said on Friday a majority of them tried to convince Rassoul into quitting the race, but he refused. Voter registration speeds up in Faryab Qayyum Karzai, the elder brother of President Hamid By Qutbuddin Kohi Mar 1, 2014 - 12:26 Karzai, said he was thankful to the jirga for being supportive to him, something he said further energised MAIMANA (Pajhwok): The voter registration process has his spirit to continue his run for the presidency. accelerated in northern , with more and Qayyum Karzai said if elected to power, he would more people applying for the cards in the backdrop of the consult the nation in every matter as part of ongoing electioneering, an official said Saturday. Afghanistan’s history and tradition. Over 180 persons daily visit the registration office to get The 170-member jirga, representing all the country’s 34 voter cards, said Syed Masoom Masoomi, the provincial provinces, had been holding negotiations over the past 10 Independent Election Commission (IEC) office head. days. He told Pajhwok Afghan News the number of people Also included government officials, the jirga had been receiving voter registration cards had increased after the trying to convince one of the two candidates to shun his launch of the presidential campaign on Feb. 2. candidacy in favour of the other. So far 110,000 people, 37 percent of them females, had The jirga was scheduled to announce the outcome of its received voter cards since the registration began, he added. mission four days ago, but delayed the announcement A resident of the first district of Maimana told Pajhwok after President Karzai reportedly wished his brother Afghan News she would cast her vote in favour of a should quit. candidate, who could help resolve poverty and The jirga’s deputy chairman, Mohammad Amin Waqad, unemployment problems. told reporters their negotiations had been inconclusive. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/01/voter-registration- He said President Karzai had sought an alliance between speeds-faryab his brother and Rassoul, but it did not happen. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/28/jirga-fails- Helmand rallies vow support to Ghani, Rassoul forge-qayyum-rassoul-alliance By Shams Jalal Mar 1, 2014 - 15:58 LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): A large number of people, Another campaigner for Abdullah killed including women, on Saturday attended gatherings held By Qutbuddin Kohi Mar 1, 2014 - 17:18 separately in southern Helmand province in support of MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Yet another campaigner for presidential contenders Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Dr. presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah was killed Zalmai Rassoul. The gatherings were arranged by campaign in a bomb attack targeting a campaign convoy in offices of the two presidential hopefuls. In the first northwestern Faryab province on Saturday. gathering supporting Ahmadzai, hundreds of women, apart from men, were present.

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They pledged support to Ahmadzai, who they viewed a Muhseni said provincial council contenders would be man of principles with the ability to resolve problems invited to an open hearing before announcing the results of facing the country. their investigation into nomination papers. “We want to vote in favour of Ahmadzai, who has the More than 27,000 individuals have filed papers to run for ability to put the country on the path to progress and provincial council seats across the country. prosperity,” said Malaika, who attended the gathering in Muhseni said fake degree holders would never be allowed support of the former finance minister. to contest the elections and would be dealt with in She said Ahmadzai was a renowned economist and he accordance with the laws. knew better how to rehabilitate the war-hit economy and Asila Barakzai, a Kunduz council member, told Pajhwok eliminate widespread poverty from the country. Afghan News it had been late to evaluate nomination Separately, hundreds of people held a gathering in support papers because candidates would have little time to of Rassoul, a former foreign minister. The participants campaign. chanted slogans, saying Rassoul could ensure greater Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/02/iecc- peace in the country. One of the participants, Shareen vetting-more-nomination-papers Shida said Rassoul had enough experience in foreign affairs and he could forge better ties with the international community for the sake of a prosperous Afghanistan. Political activities have increased in recent days in Helmand, where big rallies have so far taken place in support of several presidential candidates. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/01/helmand-rallies- vow-support-ghani-rassoul

Governor warns officials to remain neutral in polls By Hidayatullah Hamdard Mar 2, 2014 - 17:36

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): The governor of the northern on Sunday warned strict action would be IECC vetting more nomination papers taken against government officials if they found interfering By Muhammad Hassan Khetab Mar 2, 2014 - 17:36 in the elections affairs. Chairing a high-level meeting with the participation of police chiefs from 16 districts of the KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral province, Abdul Latif Ibrahimi, assured security forces Complaints Commission (IECC) on Sunday said it had would ensure fool-proof security to voters during the bal- started evaluating nomination papers of another 400 lot process in the province. However, he issued stern direc- provincial council candidates. tions to government officials to remain neutral during the IECC spokesman Nadir Muhseni said the commission had entire elections process slated for April 5 this year. There decided to start vetting documents of 400 candidates, were no security related problems in the province, he said, adding papers of 90 contenders had already been cleared adding only five polling stations were facing a low-level without any complaints against them. threat with efforts by the security forces were on to im- The scrutiny of nomination papers of more candidates prove the law and order of those polling centres. Maj. Gen. begins as only two days are left in the launch of election Abdul Hanan Qataghni, provincial police chief, directed campaign for the provincial council elections due on April all the districts police chiefs they should not prefer their 5. The Ministry of Education has earlier rejected academic personal interests over national interests democratic exer- certificates of some nominees. cise. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/02/governor-warns- officials-remain-neutral-polls

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US should ignore Karzai remarks: Abdullah 5 more erased from provincial candidate list By Muhammad Hassan Khetab Mar 3, 2014 - 20:04 By Pajhwok Report Mar 3, 2014 - 20:37

KABUL (Pajhwok): Reacting to President Hamid Karzai’s KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Electoral recent remarks on the war in Afghanistan, front-line Complaints Commission (IECC) on Monday said it had presidential runner Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Monday disqualified another five provincial council candidates urged the international community to ignore the departing for submitting fake academic documents. president’s emotions and instead concentrate on the The electoral watchdog has started a new round of transformation decade. vetting nomination documents of 400 more provincial President Karzai told Washington Post in an interview council runners. published on Saturday the 12 year-old US war effort in IECC member and spokesman Nadir Mohseni told a Afghanistan had not been waged with his country’s press conference in Kabul they vetted documents of 90 interests in mind. candidates since Saturday and found fake the academic “Afghans died in a war that’s not ours,’ he said in the certificates provided by five candidates. interview, his first in two years with a US newspaper. Previously, 40 candidates have been disqualified for Karzai said he felt betrayed by an insufficient US focus on being below the age limit of 25 years. targeting Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan, insisting that The latest disqualifications come a day before provincial public criticism had been the only way to guarantee an council candidates are all set to embark on American response to his concerns. electioneering. Abdullah, who finished runner-up in the 2009 elections and More than 2,700 people have applied for running in the pulled out of the second round runoff race, said Karzai’s April 5 provincial council elections across the country. statements were sentimental. “If the US was not nice to Link http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/03/5-more-erased- Afghanistan then why did President Karzai rule in silence provincial-candidate-list over the past more than decade?” “I expect even more such remarks from President Karzai in Ghani continues to muster support future, but the US and the international community should By Abasin Zaheer Mar 3, 2014 - 21:07 not take them serious and should be watchful to the security KABUL (Pajhwok): The Council of Eastern Provinces and political transitions in Afghanistan.” and hundreds of people in northern Kunduz, Balkh and He said the Afghans will decide on their fate next month Faryab provinces on Monday threw their weight behind and the system will be changed. leading presidential runner Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. “Ensuring transparent and inclusive elections in

Afghanistan is the responsibility of the international Nearly 4,000 people attended a gathering arranged by the community,” said the former foreign minister. Council of Eastern Provinces in Kabul, the council head, He said Afghanistan needed long-term international Qamaruddin Shinwari, said. He said the council cooperation, particularly from the US, saying the world supported Ahmadzai because they believed he could should stay committed to the country’s future security and resolve the country’s problems. He urged the foreign stability. finance minister to stay committed to strengthening Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/03/us-should-

national unity, ignore-karzai-remarks-abdullah

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Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter security and combating corruption if he won the April 5 The organizations allocating funds for elections later elections. accepted to set aside budget for the provincial offices, Ahmadzai, who attended the gathering, thanked the Muhsini said, adding the delay did not affect their process, council for announcing it support to him, saying it further but it caused workload in central office. strengthened his position in making it to the presidency. Regarding the efficiency of the provincial offices, he said: He promised honesty while in the service of people and he “In accordance with electoral law, provincial offices are would put to an end the gap between the government and authorized to asses’ local complaints and reduce the the people. “Dictatorship is no more, we are in democracy workload of central office.” and the government has to serve the nation,” he added. He went on to say the IECC had processed hundreds of Ghani believed the distance between the government and electoral complaints, besides scrutinized the documents of the people was due to the misuse of positions by 400 provincial council contenders and subsequently government officials. disqualified ten of them. He vowed to work hard toward achieving lasting peace. “I At least 2,700 contenders have filed nominations to contest will start the peace process from villages before taking it to the provincial council elections while 11 others contest the capitals,” Ahmadzai said. presidential polls. Hundreds of people attended rallies voicing support to Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/03/iecc-officials-put- Ahmadzai in Kunduz, Balkh and Faryab provinces on duty-countrywide Monday. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/03/ghani-continues- muster-support

IECC officials put on duty countrywide By Pajhwok reporter Mar 3, 2014 - 16:18

KABUL (Pajhwok): After a months-long delay, the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Monday sent its commissioners to provinces to perform election duty. Six months back, the commissioners were scheduled to start their duties in all provinces but the IECC managed to send its 100 commissioners for formal duties in the provinces. The IECC officials said offices had been opened in all the 34 provinces where elections related issues would be tackled including electoral complaints. Police detain man selling voter cards in Kabul Mohammad Nadir Muhsini, the IECC spokesperson, told By Pajhwok Report Mar 3, 2014 - 14:03 Pajhwok Afghan News three commissioners were appointed to each province. He said four of the elections’ KABUL (Pajhwok): Police in Kabul arrested a man with a officials had resigned before resuming their duties. large number of voter cards he had purchased from people Without giving details into the resignation tendered by the in eastern Nuristan province, the Ministry of Interior said four officials, he said a woman had also among those on Monday. resigned as she was unable to work in Logar province. The man was detained in the fourth police district of Kabul It merits mention that growing insecurity and militants’ by police while possessing 1,766 voter cards which he had threats are some challenges created concerns among bought from people in Nuristan. people and elections’ officials, with analysts believe it He was arrested last night while trying to sell the voter could force people not to cast their votes. cards for $10 each in Kabul, the Interior Ministry said in a However, the IECC secretariat said, insecurity was a statement. countrywide problem and tendering resignation by some During preliminary investigations, the detainee confessed officials was their personal issue. to purchasing the cards from residents in the eastern Establishment of offices, technical problems and province, it added. inadequate funding forced the IECC to send the officials Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/03/police-detain- after months of delay, he added. man-selling-voter-cards-kabul

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He said 18 of the polling centres were closed due to high security threats, asking security forces to bolster law and order throughout the province. The number of 50 insecure polling stations has been reduced to 31 after Afghan forces ensured security for 19 polling stations, he said. IHRC director, Jawad Rizai also expressed concerns regarding the presence of illegal armed men and asked security forces to control the situation. “Vote is the right of every eligible citizen, and we support their rights,” Rizai added. He asked IEC to launch public awareness programmes Group arrested with night letters in Baghlan among people about the importance of elections and By Habib Rahman Sherzai Mar 3, 2014 - 19:03 deploy professional individuals in the IEC. Ghor residents also complained about the presence of MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Police have arrested a group they armed men in their areas. Mohammad Nabi, a resident of accused of distributing threatening letters to locals warning Shahrak district, said he was issued voter card but he was them against participation in the April elections in northern worried about the presence of armed men who forced Baghlan province, an official said on Monday. locals to vote in favour of the formers’ candidates. The eight-member group having links with the Taliban was He demanded the government to adopt stringent measures arrested on Sunday night in Hussain Khel area of Pul-i- to stop the armed men creating problems for public. Khumri, the provincial capital, police chief Brig Gen But provincial police chief, Dilawar Shah Dilawar, assured Aminullah Amarkhail told a press conference. security forces were fully prepared to ensure strict law and Many night letters, three Kalashnikovs and a corolla car order during the ballots. were discovered from the detainees, he said. The leaflets He said security forces would be deployed in insecure carried the logo of Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan, the areas and no one would be allowed to disrupt the elections name Taliban used for Afghanistan during their regime. process. A resident of the area, Mohammad Akbar, told Pajhwok the Khudayar Waqif, a civil society activist, said: “We want group had been staying at the house of his neighbour until the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan arrested by police last night. (FFEFA) to send their workers to oversee the election “We did not know what the men were doing in our area, affairs.” but locals accuse the house owner of sheltering militants,” He asked campaigners and presidential and provincial he said. runners to follow election rules and contest the elections in Akbar said the residents had been issued voter cards and a democratic manner. they were committed to taking part in the elections. Saad Malook, presidential runner Gul Agha Sherzai’s Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/03/group-arrested- campaign team’s member, said some gunmen were night-letters-baghlan forcefully collecting voter cards and sell them to campaigners. Armed men interfering in Ghor elections’ affairs Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/03/armed-men- By Muhammad Hassan Hakimi Mar 3, 2014 - 17:34 interfering-ghor-elections%E2%80%99-affairs

CHAGHCHARAN (Pajhwok): The Independent Election PC candidates officially start canvassing Commission (IEC) on Monday expressed grave concerns By Pajhwok Report ‎ Mar 4, 2014 - 13:22 over interference by armed men in election affairs in western Ghor province. KABUL (Pajhwok): Provincial council (PC) candidates on Salman Sharifi regional IEC chief said its entire staff was Tuesday officially entered a month-long electioneering in ready to discharge their duty efficiently in the April 5 the lead-up to the April elections. elections but interference by illegal gunmen was really a The campaign will end 48 hours before the voting beings matter of concern for the elections body. on April 5. More than 2,700 hopefuls, including 306 Addressing a meeting arranged by civil society women, are in the run for provincial council seats. On the organizations, Independent Human Rights Commission campaign’s first day, hundreds of contenders started (IHRC) and representatives of IEC, Sharifi said as many as pasting their posters on walls and erecting billboards in 31 of 240 polling stations were inactive in Baghlan Kabul to attract attention. province. http://www.pajhwok.com Page 8 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com

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Earlier, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) had warned candidates of legal action if found violating the electoral law. Candidates have expressed their inability to campaign in the face of growing insecurity, particularly in remote parts. Though security departments have assured all possible measures to protect candidates during the electioneering, yet fears among candidates about the law and order situation remain high. Four commissioners on the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) have refused to perform duty in insecure areas. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/04/pc-candidates- officially-start-canvassing

PC runners reassured security By Hassan Khitab Mar 4, 2014 - 15:07 KABUL (Pajhwok): As provincial council candidates plunged into a month-long campaigning, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said on Tuesday stringent security measures had been put in place for their security. The ministry asked the contenders to stay in close contact with police during the campaign to avoid any untoward incident. Provincial council candidates on Tuesday officially kicked off campaigning that would end 48 hours before the voting day (April 5). More than 2,700 individuals, including 306 females, are contesting on provincial council seats across the country. MoI spokesman Siddiqui Siddique told a press conference in Kabul providing security to provincial candidates was the government’s top priority. He said police chiefs in provinces had been issued strict directives to adopt all possible measures in ensuring security of candidates. He asked candidates and their campaigners to share their campaign programmes in advance with police so that proper security steps could be taken. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/04/pc-runners- reassured-security

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