CHARIKAR (Pajhwok): Participants of a gathering marking the Martyrs Week in central Parwan province on Saturday demanded a quick end to the electoral deadlock.

In his address, Mayor Roohullah Siddiqui asked presidential contenders Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Dr. Abdullah to put aside their differences and work for the country’s development.

Paying tribes to late Ahmad Shah Massoud, he said noble Afghan personalities had always rendered sacrifices to preserve Afghanistan’s independence.

He said the ongoing electrical crisis was the only factor behind the country’s current economic decline. He urged both the candidates to notice the increasing poverty and decreasing economic growth in the country.

Parwan University official Niroomand Farazian praised the late Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was assassinated before the 9/11 incident by two al Qaeda men posing as journalists.

Ahmad Naveed, a resident of Charikar and participant of the gathering, said people were concerned about the current situation in the country. He added the growing unemployment was a major concern of the youth.

nh/ma