KUNDUZ (PAN): The people of Kunduz have expressed their determination to participate in the elections but demanded the concerned authorities should adopt measures to ensure holding of fair, free and transparent ballots.
  Kunduz has six districts and a capital city and the province is located 300- kilometers to the north of Kabul city.
Chahar Dara and Archi are the most insecure districts of the province where massive rigging was reported during the previous elections. It is said that constituencies would yet to be identified for the upcoming elections.
The report is based on the interviews with six individuals from four districts including the Kunduz city, the provincial capital.
A student says: Strict security is needed to control looming rigging in upcoming elections.
Abdu Rahman 29, a resident of Dashti Archi district and student of language and literature faculty said there was massive ragging in few polling stations of the district during the last elections.
“Because of insufficient security, observers were unable to visit the polling stations, which led to unprecedented rigging in those polling stations” he said.
He expressed reservations widespread insecurity would hamper the upcoming elections, adding free and fair ballots could not be conducted unless strict security measures could not be adopted.
Farmer: I witnessed development in my life but law and order continue to deteriorate.
Fatih Mohammad, a farmer from Khan Abad district said his living standard had improved after the establishment of Karzai government.
“I will vote to a candidate who can understand the problems of lower and middle class citizens of the country,” he added.
He said his vote would go to the contender who would serve the masses and bring drastic changes in their lives by providing basic necessities of life.
The winner candidate should strive to ensure provision of modern equipment for agriculture and explore market for the farmers’ crops inside and outside the country, he added.
He demanded the president should direct the concerned departments to bolster security and law and order elsewhere in the country.
A government employee: There is dire need to stop rampant administrative corruption in government departments.
Hikmatullah Qayyumi, an employee of provincial electricity department said he had been working for three years as government employees and overseeing large scale administrative corruption cases.
Qayyumi went on to say he would vote in favour of a candidate who could help eliminate the menace of rampant corruption by holding the responsible to account.
He enumerated the new president should work hard to explore more job opportunities through establishment of industries and helped eliminate corruption and bribes.  
He underlined the need the government should bolster security, implement development projects, create awareness about education and respect for women rights.
Hindu minorities: Minorities’ rights should not be violated.
Lala Dilsoz 54, a resident of Kunduz and representative of Hindus minority said his community would cast their vote in favour of a candidate who could help us to be recognized citizens of Kunduz.
“Our children are deprived of education and we cannot burn down our dead as per our established religious rituals. We use to shift our dead to Jalalabad to be burnt there at a particular place,” he added.
He said visible changes were witnessed in people’s lives but a matter of concern was that insecurity was still haunting the people.
Giving minute detail, he said during the rule of previous governor Engineer Umar a piece of land was provided to each family of his community but that promise would yet to be materialized.
Dilsoz while lauding the sitting government said, his community would vote in favour of a candidate who could help protect minorities’ rights.
A mother: the life has improved.
Mother of three sons, Gul Chehra 30, a resident of Qila Zal district said her husband was a teacher at one of the district school and her family just obtained voter registration card.
“After consultation with my husband, we will vote for a candidate who has the capacity to serve the salaried and low income class,” she added.
She expressed satisfaction regarding the performance of the incumbent government by saying her life standard had been changed considerably.
Shopkeeper: I will simply cast my vote in favour of a candidate who is not involved in the killing of innocent people.
Naveed Ahmad 26, a resident Imam Shahib district and owner of a garment store said law and order situation had improved. He said he would cast his vote in favour of a candidate who neither involved in the killing of innocent people nor had any role in civil war.
He said upcoming president should implement the master plane of Imam Shahib district by promoting the district to the status of a province.
He said poverty and unemployment were among major problems, which should be addressed on emergency bases. 
A doctor: I will for sure participate in the elections.
Doctor Hameedullah Hameedi 37, a resident of Kunduz city who has his own private clinic said having the voter registration card, he would cast his vote in favour of a candidate with brilliant past record.
“The upcoming government should explore measures to address genuine grievances of the people in different sectors because the current government harmed the trust of the masses,” he demanded.
He said there was dire need to ensure speedy justice, bolster law and order, and eliminate poverty and unemployment from the province.
He said the government should invite militant groups for negotiation in an apparent attempt to ensure durable peace and stability in the country.
A traffic police officer: We need help.
Qasim 40, a traffic police officer in Imam Sahib Port in Kunduz city said they were facing multiple and large scale problems.
“I discharge my duty on very low pay. The upcoming president should raise the salaries of the traffic police department,” he added.
He said he got the voting registration card, adding he would vote in favour of a candidate after consultation with his colleagues.