Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) Weekly Election Coverage Newsletter, Feb.19-25 Electioneering gains momentum in east By Mahbob Shah Mahbob Feb 19, 2014 - 19:12 JALALABAD/ASADABAD (Pajhwok): Campaign rallies Special people fault candidates’ priorities were organised on Wednesday in eastern Nangarhar and By Hadi Ghafari & Zabihullah Ihsas Feb 19, 2014 - 18:03 Kunar provinces in support of three presidential candidates. There were two separate gatherings in MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): People with Nangarhar, one supporting Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf and disabilities in northern Balkh province on Wednesday another Gul Agha Sherzai. The rally supporting Sayyaf complained none of the 11 presidential candidates has was arranged by Meshrano Jirga Chairman Fazl Hadi any policy on promoting their civil, political, social, Muslimyar. economic and cultural rights. Thousands of people attended the gathering, voicing The views were expressed at a gathering arranged by unflinching support to Sayyaf, a veteran former jihadi the Social and Culture Association of People with commander. Muslimyar called Sayyaf a globally Disabilities at the provincial office of the Afghanistan recognised religious scholar, saying he was the right man to protect the country at this sensitive juncture. “We Independent Human Rights Commission in should take part in the elections and if we did not, the Mazar-i-Sharif. A large number of disabled people success will never be achieved,” the Senate chairman attended the gathering. urged the people of Nangarhar. The gathering was The association head, Syed Mohammad Yazdan attended by a large number of tribal elders, religious Parast, told Pajhwok Afghan News 18 days into elec- scholars and customs police commanders. tioneering, no presidential candidate had so far re- Similarly, a separate gathering in Jalalabad, the provincial vealed his policy on the rights of people with disabili- capital, supported Gul Agha Sherzai, the former governor. ties. The Youth Council head, Noor Agha Zwak, told Pajhwok “So far we could not hear a candidate speaking about the rally was organised with fund raised by the youth. the disabled, so that we can think over that before “Sherzai is known to everyone. He has been a successful casting our votes.” He continued all candidates were governor in Nangarhar,” he said, vowing complete support to Sherzai. In eastern Kunar, hundreds of people attended yet to speak about social and economic problems be- a rally, voicing support to presidential candidate Dr. ing faced by the disabled. Zalmai Rassoul, formerly foreign minister in the President Under the country’s laws, he argued, the disabled Karzai’s cabinet. were entitled to exercise their civil, political, social, Wolesi Jirga member and campaigner for Rassoul, Haji economic and cultural rights like others, calling on the Sakhi Mashwanai, said around 300 people attended the presidential hopefuls to present their policies in this campaign rally. regard. Link: Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/19/special- http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/19/electioneering- people-fault-candidates%E2%80%99-priorities gains-momentum-east http://www.pajhwok.com Page 1 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/www.vote.af Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter MoI spokesman Siddiqui Siddique told Pajhwok Afghan News that Abdullah’s campaign convoy was returning from Sarobi to the central capital when it came under attack at around 4:40pm. No one in the convoy got hurt, he said, adding Abdullah had reached his residence safe. One of Abdullah’s campaigners, Syed Aqa Hussaini, wrote on his Facebook page there was no attack, Rallies held in support of Ghani, Abdullah By Pajhwok reporter Feb 19, 2014 - 18:57 calling reports in this regard a rumour. He said there might have been gunfire in the area, but KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Big rallies were organized on Abdullah’s team had not been targeted. On Feb 2, Wednesday in support of presidential candidates Ashraf two campaigners for Abdullah, a former foreign Ghani Ahmadzai and Dr. Abdullah Abduallah in northern minister, were killed by unknown gunmen in western Kunduz and Takhar provinces. Herat province. Haji Malik Mohammad, chief of the Zakhil tribe, said they Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/19/abdullah% backed Ghani as presidential contender because he was E2%80%99s-convoy-comes-under-attack-sarobi well-educated and experienced enough to pull country out of problems. 23 Paktia polling stations under threat Similarly, another rally was held in support of Dr. By Sahel Mangal Feb 20, 2014 - 14:53 Abdullah. Hamidullah, a supporter of candidate, said: “The number of Dr. Abdullah’s supporter is high in Kunduz. GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Security officials in southeastern People have been thronging our campaign office.” Paktia province on Thursday said 23 polling stations were But Gul Nazar said: “We are here to support Ghani and still under high threat from insurgents. Gen. Dostum because both leaders have the ability to Brig. Gen. Zalmai Oryakhel, the provincial police chief, resolve our problems.” Dostum had been enjoying more told Pajhwok Afghan News of the 212 polling stations support in Takhar, he claimed. across the province, 23 were insecure. Link: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/19/rallies-held- However, he promised his forces would adopt stringent support-ghani-abdullah measures to protect the polling stations from the insurgent threat in the near future. “Afghan security forces have launched a joint offensive and are trying to secure as many polling stations as possible till the elections,” he added. The insecure polling stations, he said, were located in Janikhel, Syed Karam, Zazai Aryub, Laja Mangal and Zurmat districts. Paktia did not face any big security challenge that could disrupt the process, he said. Col. Itbar Shah Shinwari, the Waza Zadran district chief, said: “We have held talks with local elders, who have assured us of all-out cooperation in holding peaceful elections.” Afghan National Army (ANA), police and intelligence officials had a heavy presence in the province and were striving to bolster security ahead of the April 5 polls, he added. Abdullah’s convoy comes under attack in Sarobi Rehmatullah Haqmal, the provincial election commission By Painda Hikmat Feb 19, 2014 - 18:26 head, expressed optimism the number of insecure polling stations would decrease. KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on “We are ready to send our officials for discharging their Wednesday said gunmen attacked a convoy carrying duties as soon as security is restored around insecure presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and his polling stations,” he concluded. supporters in the Sarobi district of Kabul province. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/20/23-paktia-polling- stations-under-threat http://www.pajhwok.com Page 2 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter Election officials accused of partiality By Mahbob Shah Mahbob Feb 20, 2014 - 17:39 JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Campaigners for presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in the eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday accused some officials of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) of backing particular contenders. Extremists out to sabotage peace: Masood They levelled the allegations while inaugurating Ghani By Abasin Zaheer Feb 20, 2014 - 16:11 Ahmadzai’s elections campaign office in Jalalabad. The KABUL (Pajhwok): Ahmad Zia Masood, presidential run- event was attended by thousands of people, including ner Dr. Zalmai Rassoul’s choice for first vice-president, on local elders and religious leaders. Thursday alleged some extremist circles outside Afghani- stan were trying to disrupt peace in Afghanistan. Participants announced their unflinching support to Addressing a campaign rally, arranged in his support by a Ahmadzai in the April 5 electoral fray, said Ehsanullah pro-development and democracy alliance, he said some Kamil, campaign manager. foreign forces were out to sabotage peace efforts in Af- ghanistan. Masood added the country had faced tremen- Thousands of local elders, religious scholars, jihadi dous challenges throughout its history. Without naming commanders and people of the area assured support to the any country, he accused some neighbours of interfering in presidential hopeful, a world-renowned economist, Kamil the internal affairs of Afghanistan. remarked. He said the country direly needed to build close ties with Haji Abdul Zaher Qadeer, Wolesi Jirga member from the international community to get rid of foreign interfer- Nangarhar, said Ghani Ahmadzai was the most favourite ence and achieve economic stability. presidential runner. “The people of this eastern province International support was imperative at the present critical will vote for him,” he hoped. juncture in terms of security because Afghan forces could not ensure full security on their own, Massoud argued. He assailed President Hamid Karzai for failing to ensure If the team headed by Rassoul succeeded in elections, he peace in the country and even his home province promised, an era of good governance and vast investment Kandahar was continuously haunted by war and fighting. would dawn in the country. “On the other hand, Dr. Ghani Ahmadzai has discharged He said youth would be given the lion’s share in politics his duties diligently both as finance minister and vice and those who had been promoting personal interest would chancellor of the Kabul University,” he noted. be sidelined. “If we win the elections, a new era of eco- nomic stability will be ushered in.” http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/20/election-officials- Massoud urged militants to shun violence and take part in accused-partiality politics to rebuild their country. “Fighting cannot resolve http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/02/20/extremists-out-sabotage -peace-masood http://www.pajhwok.com Page 3 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter Election campaign to foster unity: One scholar, Maulvi Nasrullah Qasimi told participants including the tribal elders, women activists and civil society members that Islam gives women the right to participate in KABUL (Pajhwok): President Hamid Karzai on polls.