Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) Weekly Election Coverage Newsletter, March 26-31 centres, asking the authorities to increase the number of such centres. As the April 5 presidential and provincial council elections draw closer, enthusiasm among Herat residents is growing to participate in the national process. Presently, two voter registration centres are functional in Herat City. Mir Ahmad, 35, a resident of Pul-i-Khaima Duzdan area in the eighth police district, said he had come to the registration centre at 5:35am, but he failed to obtain his voter card until 11am. Naeem pulls out of race in Rassoul’s favour Another resident of Herat City, Abdul Rauf, said he could By Meer Agha Nasrat Samimi Mar 26, 2014 - 11:37 not get his card despite waiting for three hours. He called for opening more centres to address people’s KABUL (Pajhwok): In an expected development, inconvenience. presidential runner Sardar Muhammad Nadir Naeem on Roya Bahrami, another dweller, received her voter card, Wednesday announced withdrawing from the electoral but after two days of wait. She urged the Independent race in favour of Dr. Zalmai Rassoul. Election Commission (IEC) to set up more registration At a joint news conference with Rassoul in Kabul, Naeem centres to enable the blind to exercise their voting right. said his decision was driven by the supreme national On the other hand, residents of far-flung districts who interest, notably unity among the Afghans. visited the provincial capital to get their cards, grumbled The decision was taken after consultation with his about similar problems. Abdullah from Injil district said he supporters, said the candidate, who added: “Supporting had been trying for the past two days to get the voter card. Zalmai Rassoul will bring us closer to national unity -- But Jamaluddin Bakhtiari, head of the voter registration and ultimate success.” centre, said they worked daily to issue voter cards to 750 In his remarks, Rassoul said Naeem’s support had helped people, including 300 women. He added they worked nine him move a step closer to victory in the April 5 vote. The hour a day but the number of candidates was growing and joining of his team by Abdul Qayyum Karzai had hence the delay. enhanced his energy to serve the nation, he added. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/26/voters-demand-more- Rassoul, an ex-foreign minister, announced his doors registration-centres remained open to other runners. On visits to provinces in connection with his election campaign, he found that Security up in Uruzgan in run-up to vote people were fed up with extremism. By Ajmal Wisal Mar 26, 2014 - 14:50 He claimed the masses wanted to vote for his team that TARINKOT (Pajhwok): Officials in central Uruzgan stood for moderation, equality and construction. He urged province on Wednesday said tight security measures had the government to ensure transparent elections and let been put in place around polling stations for the April 5 people decide their future on April 5. presidential and provincial elections. President Hamid Karzai’s brother Abdul Qayyum Karzai Police chief, Brig Gen. Matiullah Khan, in an exclusive has already retired in favour of Rassoul. Another interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, said the number of presidential hopeful, Abdul Rahim Wardak, has also security posts had been increased in the areas where withdrawn from the race. But he has not publicly polling stations were located. supported any candidate. A searching operation was underway across the province http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/26/naeem-pulls-out-race- to address security threats, he said. “I assure Uruzgan rassoul%E2%80%99s-favour residents security forces would use all their ability to Voters demand more registration centres protect the vote. Voters will feel safe turning to polling By Storai Karimi Mar 26, 2014 - 12:52 stations.” He added all polling sites in the province, where the HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A number of residents of security environment was being improved in the run-up to western Herat province on Wednesday complained about the vote, would open on Election Day. a lack of voter registration http://www.pajhwok.com Page 1 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/www.vote.af Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter Separately, 205th Atal Military Corps Commander Gen. His choice for first vice-president Gen. Khuda-i-Dad said Mohammad Rassoul Kandahari said Afghan forces would their team would do all it could to improve the security employ all resources at their disposal to maintain security environment. He also pledged an all-out campaign against for polling sites. graft. “We have encountered no major problem after the http://www.pajhwok.com/en/ 2014/03/26/arsala-vows- withdrawal of foreign forces from Uruzgan; we have been sincere-talks-taliban able to maintain security in all areas. Afghan soldiers have been deployed to some areas to boost security,” he said. Residents are also hopeful of streaming to polling stations in a safe environment. A dweller of Mehrabad area, Mohammad Wali, said he had obtained his voter card and would vote for a candidate of his choice. “I didn’t apply for a voter card in the previous elections because of insecurity,” Wali recalled. A tribal elder, Noorullah, acknowledged security in their area had improved, with most people interested in taking part in the election process. Regional Independent Election Commission (IEC) chief, Abdul Hameed Sharifi, also saw no threat to polling sta- tions. “All 50 polling sites in the province are open and Zia Massoud pledges better security there is no security concern.” Hidayatullah Hamdard Mar 26, 2014 - 16:28 http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/26/security-uruzgan- TALOQAN (Pajhwok): Vice-presidential hopefuls Ahmad run-vote Zia Massoud and Abdul Wahab Irfan on Wednesday promised residents of northern Takhar province they would restore peace and introduce Shariah if they succeeded in the upcoming elections. Massoud, Zalmai Rassoul’s candidate for VP, told hundreds of supporters at an election rally in Taloqan insecurity was a major impediment to Afghanistan’s economic progress and prosperity. He said if his team won next month’s elections, it would bring peace and stability to the country within 18 months. Afghan National Army (ANA) and police would be equipped with latest heavy weapons and families of martyrs compensated, he added. Mahmood Karzai, a brother of President Hamid Karzai, Arsala vows sincere talks with Taliban promised to attract investment to the province to boost By Zabihullah Ihsas Mar 26, 2014 - 15:26 agriculture and energy sectors. MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Presidential runner Hidayat Also on Wednesday, Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf’s Amin Arsala on Wednesday promised sincere peace candidate for the VP slot, Abdul Wahab Irfan, told a negotiations with Taliban if he won the April 5 election. similar public meeting he would enforce peace in the Addressing hundreds of supporters in Mazar-i-Sharif, country. He said corruption would be eradicated and a Arsala said: “The Afghans need peace and I will launch proper system Zakat put in place. sincere dialogue with the Taliban in a bid to achieve Provincial council member Qazi Kabir Murzban, also a stability.” He also referred to widespread corruption in former jihadi commander and governor of Takhar, government departments, saying he would introduce good declared support to Sayyaf. governance and institutional reforms to get rid of the menace. “The economic situation needs special attention. In http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/26/zia-massoud- my future programmes for the country, I have a clear pledges -better-security economic policy,” the candidate added. http://www.pajhwok.com Page 2 http://www.elections.pajhwok.com Pajhwok Afghan News Election Coverage Newsletter Gatherings held in support of candidates By Shams Jalal Mar 26, 2014 - 18:06 LASHKARGAH/ASADABAD (Pajhwok): Separate gatherings were held in on support of presidential runners Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Zalmai Rassoul, Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf and Gul Agha Sherzai in Helmand and Logar provinces on Wednesday. Hundreds of Helmand residents announced their support to Ahmadzai. The candidate’s campaign leader in the province, Haji Bismillah Rohani, said a majority of residents supported Ahmadzai as next president. Residents including women of Logar province supported Ahmadzai, saying he was the right person to lead the 92pc of Afghans support elections: survey country, facing a whole host of challenges as NATO-led By Hassan Khitab Mar 26, 2014 - 17:59 combat troops prepare to leave Afghanistan. A Wolesi Jirga member, Wagma Sapi, said: “We support KABUL (Pajhwok): Citing a new survey, the Free and Ahmadzai because he has good programmes for women’s Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) on welfare.” She also praised the ex-finance minister’s vision Wednesday said 92 percent of Afghans supported the for Afghanistan’s future. April 5 elections, but they were worried about possible Also on Wednesday, Zalmai Rassoul, Abdu Rab Rassoul fraud. Sayyaf and Gul Agha Sherzai were assured of support by Of the 4,000 people interviewed, 92 percent of residents of Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand, and some respondents said they would participate in the presidential districts. and provincial council elections. Five percent did not http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/03/26/gatherings-held- support the polls and three percent refused to comment. support-candidates According to the survey, 75 percent of those polled said they would cast their votes -- a high percentage compared Dead PC runner identified as Mohammadi with the previous elections. By Meer Agha Nasrat Samimi Mar 26, 2014 - 18:06 Eighty-eight percent of respondents said they would vote KABUL (Pajhwok): A provincial council candidate who for a candidate who had the ability to serve the nation, died a day earlier along with nine others in a brazen while six percent indicated they would vote in line with Taliban attack on the Independent Election Commission advice from family and friends.