PUL-I-KHUMRI (PAN): In violation of the electoral law, officials of a government-owned fabric factory and national television Thursday took part in a gathering in favour of President Hamid Karzai's reelection bid in the northern Baghlan province. Saadullah, a member of the Provincial Election Complaints Commission (PECC) in Baghlan told Pajhwok Afghan News that the participation of a factory worker in such gatherings was against the electoral law.

Thursday's gathering in the courtyard of the Baghlan fabric factory was also attended by employees of the national television, who played the role of announcers, he added. "This is contrary to the electoral law," Saadullah argued. Senator Nazar Muhammad, campaign manager of Karzai, said the participants voiced their support for the president.

The gathering came a day after participants of a similar public meeting in support of Karzai in Khost City were paid 500 afghanis each. Pir Syed Shah, campaign manager for Karzai in Khost, said the guests were paid because they were not served lunch.

To a question why money was distributed to the participants, the head of Karzai election campaign Syed Shah said those people who had come to the venue from far-off areas were paid route fare and lunch cost.

A similar meeting violating the poll law was also held in the culture and information department of the northern Ghor province a month back.