KABUL (SW) – The official election campaign began on Sunday for the presidential polls.
President Ashraf Ghani held his maiden election rally at the tent of Loya Jirga. However, a number of journalists complained against the physical abuse by the security guards.
Mohammad Faseh, a radio reporter, told Salam Watandar the journalists wanted to take pictures of a man who raised his voice against President Ghani during the rally, but the security guards abused journalists physically. He added that after this incident, the journalists boycotted the meeting during the speech of Ghani’s proposed deputy Amrullah Saleh.
According to Naveed Mohammad of Nai – Supporting Open Media Organization, a number of journalists were physically abused by the security guards at this meeting. He stressed the Presidency should investigate the matter seriously.
This is not the first time the presidential guards have harshly treated journalists. The Presidency did not respond to repeated calls in this connection.
In his speech, President Ghani said the five-year rule of National Unity Government has weakened the warlords and has proved wrong all the predictions regarding the collapse of the security forces. According to him, in these five years, illegal cash payments to politicians have been slashed and appointments of their relatives in embassies stopped.
Ghani continued that there is no bargaining over elections and that no one has the right to deal over the fate of the people. The President insisted that peace talks would be started in a serious and principled manner and would embrace all views in the context of the democratic system.
However, Abdullah Abdullah, the Chief Executive and presidential candidate, criticized the new appointments by the Presidency. He said corruption has damaged national unity in Afghanistan. He said he does not support those in the government who are involved in moral corruption.
Referring to peace talks, he said that peace is always a longing for Afghans, but peace must be accepted by all parties and the dignity of the Afghan people must be preserved.
The presidential campaign is expected to run for 60 days.
ENDS
