ده ها تن از نيروهاى امنيتى در بغلان در محاصرۀ طالبان قرار دارند

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): A number of women in western northern Baghlan province say they are deeply concerned about the deteriorated security situation in the province and fear they may not vote in this month’s presidential election.
The women expressed their concerns after Taliban insurgents staged coordinated attacks on Pul-i-Khumri City, the provincial capital, and shut the Kabul-North highway for traffic.
Fawzia Hussaini, a resident of Tala wa Barfak district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that women had constitutional right to cast their vote but security threats could prevent them from participating in the election.
“Women were deprived of casting votes in the previous elections due to insecurity, and this time the insecurity has increased and women would not go to polling stations if the situation continues,” she added.
Zarghona, a resident of Dand-i-Ghori district, said: “After clashes increased, we moved to Pul-i-Khumri city but the situation also deteriorated here.”
She recalled when she went to a polling station during the Wolesi Jirga elections, a rocket landed near the site, but she escaped. “”But this time I would not go for voting because the situation has further deteriorated.”
Halima, an activist in Pul-i-Khumri, told Pajhwok that women were not willing to to participate in the elections due to insecurity and other problems.
“The women we met with say that situation has deteriorated and they are not willing to participate in election,” she added.
According to Halima, the situation had worsened in the provincial capital besides districts and people were in panic.
Other women held similar views about the issue.
Noorullah Paigham, IEC provincial office head, said ensuring security during elections was the duty of security forces.
“We will hold election in stable areas based on security assurance and would ignore insecure areas,” he added. He said 450,000 people had registered as voters in the province.
Responding to a question, he said: “It will be earlier to say how many women will take part in the election.”
Police chief Niaz Mohammad Niazman said a proper plan had been devised to ensure election security. He assured the people that security of all polling stations would be stable on the election day (September 28).
sa/ma

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