PUL-I-KHUMRI (PAN): An official of the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) has termed participation of education officials and workers of a government-owned textile mill in campaign rally for President Hamid Karzai in the northern Baghlan province as illegal.
High ranking education officials including the planning manager, deputy director, teachers and schools principals, besides hundreds of workers of the factory attended in the gathering held in Pul-i-Khumri Stadium here on Saturday.
Karzai's VP pick Martial Qasim Fahim addressed the gathering.
In his address, Fahim asked the participants to vote for Hamid Karzai, who is seeking his reelection in the August 20 presidential elections.
He said Karzai had carried out successful reconstruction efforts in addition to his services for security sector.
"Karzai had good programmes, and if he wins the elections, he will stop uncoordinated operations of foreign forces and will promote coordination between the foreign and local forces to limit civilian deaths," he added.
He said bringing improvement into the economic condition of the people was one Karzai's key priorities.
Sadullah, an official of the Electoral Complaints Commission in Baghlan told Pajhwok Afghan News the government officials were not authorized to take part in an election campaigns rally.
The participation of officials in a rally is violation of the electoral laws, he said, and added the ordinary staff was not allowed to attend election campaign during their duty timing.
Sadullah said he will investigate into the violations.
Education Director Abdul Rahman Hamkarsaid that the planning manger and deputy director were on 10 days sick leave and he did not know about their participation in the election rally.
Ghulam Hazrat, in a telephonic chat with this scribe, said he was on leave and what he did has nothing to do with the electoral laws.
When he was asked that participation of government officials in elections campaign rallies is violation of the law, he turned the phone off instead of responding to the question.
