KABUL (Pajhwok): Some civil society members have expressed their different opinions, about next Presidential and Provincial Council’s Elections in connection of what to be done to make the landmark elections a success event for Afghan people, during a gathering in Kabul. EmalAsifi/Sports Reporter/Kapisa A participant, Emal Asifi says it is direly needed that the bilateral security agreement [BSA] needs to be signed early in a move to make the elections a successful event. People will repose more confidence on the government and the parliament. The younger generation will then play a highly significant role to vote, to observe, and to complain. Anis Gul/Activist/Uruzgan Anis Gul, a woman participant, said there is need to increase the number of polling stations and hands security over to police chief Matiullah Khan in Uruzgan—as he is the most competent official who can secure the elections in Uruzgan. Ibrahimi/NGO coordinator/Bamiyan Ibrahimi in his views says the government needs to send a very clearer message to all and that elections will be conducted at all costs. The countrymen should not accept any postponement of the polls. The ballots should be held even if the weather is worst. Soraya/Student/Kabul However, Soraya is of the opinion that key for a successful elections is to give voter registration cards to younger generation and especially women. Through distribution of voter cards, we will be then in a position to create awareness thoroughly among people. We should prove at every cost that elections can be conducted in all circumstances. Fawzia/PC candidate/Kunduz Fawzia in her remarks says measures should be adopted to keep the militias away from the polling stations. She recalls during the last elections, commanders were getting paid $6,000 to fire rockets at polling stations in a move to create chaos and get the desired results. Khan Sayed/Tribal Elder/Kabul Expressing optimism, Khan Sayed, says he is sure elections will be held as per constitution if the BSA is signed. If the vital pact cannot be signed then voters will be confused and the overall turnout will be considerably low. Amina/Editor-in-Chief But Amina says that the province, from where she hails, no one knows if the US is leaving or staying. We’ve though disappointed with the international community, the BSA is needed to be inked, which will pave way for holding elections in transparent way. Yalda/NGO Provincial Manager/Faryab Yalda says keys for successful elections are bolstered security, good weather and female participation. In Faryab, snow may be a problem but we cannot postpone the polls at this stage, we have to move forward, she added. Mohammed Asif/DDA Head/Kabul Mohammed Asif is of the opinion there was need to continue to create awareness not just for the elections but for the democratic process. And we need more transparency from the government. We need long term agenda to develop Afghanistan. Back in the time of Daud Shah, he says he was a district governor in Logar and the government had a ten year agenda so that he knew if a project could not benefit his would benefit his son or next generation. Yes, we were poor then, but we weren’t confused and worried all the time. Magma/Activist/Herat But Magma underlines the need to change the mindset of the people who didn’t win in the last elections and who are creating chaos among people just because they didn’t win. We need to educate people that the IEC is not responsible for the elections--they are responsible for the logistics of the elections--or that the elections are somehow part of the government--they are independent of the government. This message should be better delivered through religious leaders and scholars instead of media. Saidullah/NGO coordinator/Kunar Saidullah suggests government security forces need greater coordination with the local communities to ensure good security around polling stations. Neither the government nor the international community can secure polling stations unless they reach out to the communities to bridge close contacts with the security forces. Shughnia/Student/Kabul Shughnia says she earlier does not pondered much about elections, but when I noticed politicians are talking about development and things like that then I start thinking that actually much has been done in the last decade. I then convinced that it is necessary for me to vote to sustain the process of development. I think, the key for successful elections is to activate the younger generation. We should play an active role to monitor polling stations and create awareness among people about the importance of election process.