HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A number of election observers in western Herat province on Wednesday voiced their frustration over lack of awareness-creating programs as part of the electoral process.
The watchdogs urged quick conduct of awareness programs otherwise a large number of people would be deprived of their right to vote, lashing out at  the Independent Election Commission (IEC) for not widely conducting awareness programs in the province.
They said the IEC had been unable to aware people about the election process in districts.
Shaheer, Ahmad Ahmadyar, the Transparent and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TIFA)’s regional office head in Herat, said that not only in remote areas, villages and districts, many people even in Herat City, the provincial capital, had no awareness about the election.
However, IEC officials in Herat said despite security threats, they dispatched awareness creating teams to districts and the program was still underway.
Ahmad Daud Sidiqzadah, IEC head for Herat, told Pajhwok Afghan News their public awareness programs were currently ongoing throughout the province.
He said civil society activists were concerned about security threats on the Election Day.
Meanwhile, police spokesman Abdul Ahad Walizadah assured that this month’s presidential election would be held in a peaceful environment across the province. He urged people to cooperate with security forces on the Election Day.
pk/ma