KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): A number of provincial council candidates in southern Kandahar province on Wednesday said the security situation was not favourable for electoral campaign in remote districts.
The upcoming president and provincial council polls are scheduled to take place on April 5, 2014. The election campaign for presidential polls will start on Feb. 2 and provincial councils on Mar. 4.
One provincial council aspirant Haji Niamatullah Sher Dili said though the security situation had improved in the province, candidates could not openly conduct electioneering anywhere.
Except the provincial capital and Arghandab, Dand, Daman, Spin Boldak districts, poll contenders avoid going to remote districts because of security concerns.
Having been a two-time provincial council member, Sher Dili said they had been unable to easily campaign even in Kandahar City ahead of the previous elections.
Echoing his view, another provincial council candidate, Haji Fida Mohammad Khan, suggested that aspirants should take into confidence tribal elders as part of their campaign.
Nasir Mubarez, also a provincial council runner, also acknowledged problems in reaching out to the people. Young candidates, contesting polls for the first time, find the going even tougher.
He urged the authorities to improve security ahead of the polls in far-flung parts of the province.
Under the current circumstances, women candidates could not campaign anywhere in the province except Kandahar City, grumbled a female runner, Jamila Yousafi. She viewed media outlets as the only way for women to share their agenda with the masses.
But Javed Faisal, the governor’s spokesman, said provincial authorities were ready to create a favourable campaign environment for candidates. He admitted far-flung districts were insecure.
Gen. Abdul Hameed Hamid, the 205 Afghan National Army (ANA) Corps commander, told Pajhwok Afghan News they constantly monitored the overall security situation and launched operations, if necessary.
Governor Toryalai Weesa said voter registration centres had been set up in hard-to-access parts of the province. He voiced confidence the security environment would become better and candidates would be able to campaign freely.
There are 73 people, including seven women, in the run for the 15-seat Kandahar provincial council. The outgoing council has four women.
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