MAZAR-I-SHARIF (SW) – President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani joined the celebrations of Nauroz along with representatives of the Central Asian states in Mazar-i-Sharif on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, he said holding elections is pivotal, and it should not be delayed further. He said the government respects the Independent Election Commission (IEC), but it is unacceptable to postpone the election again.
He said peace is the aspiration of all the people of Afghanistan, and this year will be the year of peace in the country. But, he stressed peace should be sustainable without the bloodshed. Ghani said peace and the elections are linked, and the people should decide authorities the future president in regard to peace process.
Chief election commissioner, Hawa Alam Nuristani, told a presser on Wednesday the presidential elections previously scheduled for 20 July would now be held on 28 September.
Governor of Balkh, Mohammad Ishaq Rehguzar, highlighted the achievements in regard to developments in the province in the past one year. He expressed concerns over the security situation in the province. He expressed support for the peace process, and hoped for peace to prevail in the next year.
The Nauroz was celebrated in the province at a time when tensions are running high between the government and the former governor, Atta Mohammad Noor, over the appointment of the new police chief.
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