PARAKH (PAN): A blast took place at the election campaign office of presidential candidate and the incumbent President Hamid Karzai in Parkha district of the central Panjsher province last night, but no one was killed or injured.
Mir Agha, a worker at the office, told Pajhwok that the explosion took place in the courtyard around 1am. The office is located close to market area in the district.
He said the explosion only caused damage to the building and broke the windowpanes. Without sharing more details, the official said it was the handiwork of Karzai's opponents.
Police chief of the province Mullah Abdul Saboor, however, said the explosion did not take place at the election office. His statement was disputed by head of the Afghan Independent Election Commission (AIEC) Noor Muhammad Hanifi who said the blast took place at the election office. He added that investigations were underway.
Ahmad Fahim, resident of Darkhel village of the same district who is supporting another presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, said only windowpanes of the office were shattered.
He said candidates and their supporters should avoid attacking election offices of each other.
Nineteen-year-old Sayed Aqa, President Karzai's supporter, condemned the blast and said the perpetrators wanted to stop Karzai's supporters from election campaign.
A few days earlier, Karzai's supporters said they were threatened by their opponents and officials in the province against continuing their campaign.