TALUQAN (SW) – Thousands of Takhar residents have demonstrated against the alleged meddling in election for provincial delegates for the proposed Loya Jirga (grand consultative session) for peace in the country.
Two local civil society activists and candidates for the LJ, Shafiq Poya and Muzgan, told Salam Watandar irregularities, mismanagement and large crowd resulted in polling boxes being vandalized. They said armed men associated with the political parties and provincial council members forced voters to cast ballots in their favor.
Takhar has been awarded 11 seats, seven for men and four for women, in the proposed Loya Jirga. Relevant institutions first proposed to nominate these delegates, however, the provincial council proposed and went ahead with voting for the delegates. Thousands of Takhar residents gathered in the provincial capital for voting. However, chaotic scenes followed vandalizing of the ballot boxes.
Lateefa Saeedi, a member of the provincial council, said she has nominated her sister for the LJ as per her quota.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Azam Afzali, secretary for the provincial council, has said dearth of technical staff and lack of cooperation from the security forces led to disruption of the electoral process.
Different civil society organizations, associations and public entities also held polls for the LJ delegates.
Some 2500 delegates are set to attend the four-day LJ in Kabul next month.
ENDS
