MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Civil society activists on Sunday held a gathering in the capital of northern Balkh and highlighted the importance of the runoff presidential elections due on June 14.
Organised by the non-governmental organisation “Assistance and Fast Development” in Mazar-i-Sharif, the gathering stressed creation of awareness among the masses about the upcoming ballot.
Zuhra Zia, who heads the NGO’s oversight and training section, told Pajhwok Afghan News the gathering was aimed at telling the people how much important the runoff election was for Afghanistan’s future.
She said their aim was to encourage people into participating in the elections. She said they had organised similar gatherings in the run-up to the April 5 elections in 14 provinces and had positive results.
It was their maiden gathering concerning the runoff elections in Balkh, she said, adding they would spread their message using brochures, journals and written texts in provinces, where they could not hold gatherings due to insecurity.
Through such gatherings, she said, they wanted to encourage more and more women into taking part in the elections.
Religious scholar Maulvi Mohammadullah, who attended the gathering, said the importance of ballot was clearly defined in Islam, which had paved the ground for Muslims to participate.
Another participant, Shahla, told Pajhwok Afghan News such awareness-creating gatherings were crucial to ensuring increased turnout.
She said the participants should pass on the messages they learnt to residents of their restive villages.
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