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GHAZNI/KABUL (PAN): A campaign manger of presidential candidates Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has complained about ‘rigging’ in presidential elections in southern Ghazni province.

Haji Zaman said election observers were unable to visit any district of the province. “In most districts, there was fraud at the polling centres as all the process pushed forward by government officials,” he claimed.

Giving no details, Zaman blamed governor Dr. Muhammad Osman Osmani for casting 80 percent of votes in favour of incumbent President Karzai. However, the spokesman for the governor termed the allegations as baseless.

Mazhabi Ihsanullah Haqyar’s campaign manger, on the other hand, said supporters of Abdullah were persuading voters to cast their ballots in his favour at Shamsul Areefin High School in Ghazni City.

IEC regional head Nadar Nekyar has also confirmed they had received complains from some candidates. He said an investigation has been launched into those complaints.

In Kabul, some presidential hopefuls expressed their views about the transparency of the elections.

One of the 34 presidential candidates Mirwais Yasini who cast his vote at one of the polling stations at Malalay High School said the polls were held successfully.

He hoped the elections might be free, fair and transparent.

Another presidential hopeful and former attorney General Abdul Jabbar Sabit said the elections were held in a disciplined manner. However, he said the turnout in Kabul was very low as compared to the previous elections in 2004.

Terming the polls as legitimate, he said the low turnout could bring the elections under question.

Shahla Ata, a female presidential aspirant, complained about removal of the Silver Nitrate Ink.

Ata who cast her ballot at Rabia Balkhi High School said women were not deputed at polling stations while schoolchildren were unable to properly guide the voters.

Shahnawaz Tani, who went to Sitara High School for casting his ballot at a polling station, said he had no complains about the polling station. However, he doubted the transparency of the second time elections.

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