LASHKARGAH (PAN): Helmand Governor Muhammad Gulab Mangal on Sunday recalled on the Taliban fighters to take part in the upcoming simultaneous presidential and provincial council elections due on 20th of this month.
Speaking at a special gathering of local people, tribal elders and ulema in the provincial capital Lashkargah, Mangal said tight security measures had been carried out to safeguard the polling stations in the districts recently cleared of the insurgents.
He said a tribal lashkar would also be raised to support the security personnel keeping guard on the polling stations. Workers of the Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (AIEC) had been sent to the districts which saw a major offensive involving foreign and local forces, he added.
"Work is re-launched on reconstruction projects in those districts which were recently cleared of the militants where more than 1800 police have been deployed for security of polling stations to facilitate locals to cast their votes," he explained.
Mangal warned the militants against disrupting the election process and urged them to shun violence and participate in the elections. He also made an appeal to the participants of the gathering to help Afghan government conduct free, fair and transparent elections.
He directed all the district chiefs and district police chiefs to ensure foolproof security on the day and do not support any candidate violating electoral laws.
The governor also assured farmers of providing them improved seeds, urea and fruit saplings under in a new programme titled 'the productive area', if they give up poppy cultivation in their fields.
A spokesman for the governor Daud Ahmadi said a large number of tribal elders, local people, ulema and influential from Greshk, Nad Ali, Nawa, Garmser and Sangin districts participated in the Sunday's gathering.
Mangal's appeal to Taliban came days after the guerrilla fighters asked Afghans to boycott the polls. Zainullah Stanikzai
