GARDEZ (SW): As many as 19 voter registration centers are still closed in Paktia province due to ragging insecurity.
Out of these centers, up to 6 are located in one Zurmat district alone.
Sher Ali Faizi, head of public awareness campaign by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) in Paktia, informed so far up to 120,000 people have registered for the forthcoming district and parliamentary elections. The IEC officials vowed the registration centers that are still closed would be reopened with the help of the security forces.
The situation has disheartened the locals. Gulzar Zazai, former provincial council member, lamented that the security forces are also not helping improve security, and it is feared more electoral centers would close down in the third round of registration.
Meanwhile, the security officials have vowed security would be improved for the polls.
Nisar Ahmad Abdul Rahimzay, director security at the police headquarters, informed Salam Watandar plans are in place to ensure safety of the voters. He said things have improved a lot in comparison to the past.
In the third round, IEC would register potential voters in districts and villages across the country.
ENDS
