JALALABAD (PAN): Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (AIEC) on Sunday provided ballot boxes and some other essential electoral materials for the August 20 presidential and provincial council elections to polling stations in the eastern Nangarhar province, an official said Sunday.

AIEC regional director Dr. Akhtar Muhammad told Pajhwok Afghan News the materials, excluding ballot papers, forms and stamps, will be dispatched to the selected areas in the coming week while the remaining materials would be sent two days before elections.

He added there were 1903 polling stations in the province, bordering Pakistan, and each station would be provided 600 ballot papers on August 20.

"Police have assured us the security of the polling stations on the voting day," he said while answering a query.

Local and tribal elders had also assured the AIEC of their cooperation in maintaining security of the stations in Nazian and Acheen districts; he said, adding more than 9515 workers would be deputed in all the polling stations on the voting day.

He explained as many as 1200,000 eligible voters had been registered with the AIEC in the elections.

"Security organs have finalized their plans about the security of the polling stations on the voting day," said a spokesman for the governor. "Discussion between the governor and security officials about the security of the polling stations is still ongoing," said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai.

Governor Gul Agha Sherzai would be meeting the dwellers of the province on Monday on the security of the elections.

Despite the assurance from the officials, the people are still concerned about the security on the voting day.

"I am not concerned e about security on the voting day because the militants have distributed warning letters in Chaparhar and other districts a few days ago and they have warned the residents against their participation in the elections," a tribal elder Faizullah Omar.

He added the letters had also threatened Mullahs not to hold funeral ceremonies for those killed in their attacks on the voting day.