TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): A number of women in central Uruzgan province say they would widely participate in the upcoming presidential election if they are provided required facilities and easy access to polling stations.
The Uruzgan women expressed these views during a meeting organized by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) here.
As many as 32 major sites are designated as polling stations and 200 as polling sites including 30 specialized for women in Tirinkot, the provincial capital, for the Sept. 28 presidential election.
Frotan, a woman from Tirinkot, told Pajhwok Afghan News that she would participate in the election despite traditional restrictions and some other threats.
She said polling sites for women should be increased and their security ensured so they could cast their votes in a peaceful environment.
Anar Bibi, another resident who lost her two sons in the war, said that she would vote for a candidate who could bring peace to the country and end the ongoing conflict.
She also demanded special polling sites for women so female voters would cast their votes without any discomfort.
Uruzgan Women Affairs Department also said Uruzgan women would participate in the September 28 presidential election as they did in the past polls.
Acting provincial women affairs director Fatima Musavi said that security for women should be improved and special polling sites for female voters increased on the election day.
Local IEC officials in Uruzgan said they would keep open 32 polling stations in Tirinkot and four districts of the province on the election day.
Ahmad Shah Khpalwak, IEC head for Uruzgan, said that women’s participation in election was important and they were trying to provide various types awareness to local women and encourage them to exercise their right to enfranchise.
He said 30 of total 200 polling sites would be dedicated to female voters on the Election Day and their security would be ensured.
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