KHOST CITY (SW) – A number of Wolesi Jirga (lower house) candidates on Sunday closed down the Khost – Paktia highway in protest against the initial results of the polls.
Supporters of these 36 candidates who have been declared defeated by the Independent Election Commission gathered in the Dwa Menda district. They threw stones at transporters trying to take alternate routes to Gardez from Khost.
Abdul Wali Wahidzay and Naseer Haqmal, two such protesting candidates, said they would continue with their protest until the IEC recounts the votes cast in Khost. They claim rigging took place in 90 polling stations, and the votes from these centers should be recounted.
This is the fourth time the defeated candidates have taken to the streets against the initial results announced by the IEC.
Meanwhile, Shah Jehan Sardari, head of the IEC in Khost, said the provincial electoral body has no mandate to recount all votes.
Many passengers, including women, children and patients, were stranded on the Khost – Gardez highway. A number of such passengers said the protesters have attacked them with stones. The protesting candidates have also warned to boycott the forthcoming presidential polls if their demands related to the WJ polls are not met.
ENDS
