People from different districts of Zabul in a gathering held in Qalat city, provincial capital, promised Karzai of casting their votes in his favour.

A tribal elder from the lawless Shinki district and one of the organizers of the gathering, Malak Shinwari, said the dwellers of his district would vote for Karzai as they did during the first round of the landmark presidential polls on August 20.

The participants also pledged to maintain security of the polling stations on the Election Day.

The announcement by the inhabitants of the restive province bordering Pakistan came ten days before the second round of polls.

In Helmand, the hotbed of Taliban insurgents, around 3000 local people, tribal elders and religious scholars voiced support to Karzai in a public meeting held in Lashkargah, provincial capital, on Wednesday, a campaign manager of the incumbent said.

Haji Amir Muhammad Akhundzada told Pajhwok Afghan News people of the provincial capital and other districts participated in the gathering.

frm/ma