Karzai Calls On Afghans To Use Their Suffrage

KABUL: (MEP) – Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai recently called upon his nationals to use their permit rights in the future presidential ballot vote, which set for April 5 next year, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.

“I am calling upon all Afghans to use their suffrage in the upcoming elections. I am calling upon all those Afghans who are 18 years old to get voting card and use it in the voting day. Using the right of franchise determines the destination of the country and takes the country towards welfare and stability,” Karzai told reporters at a press conference in his fortified Presidential Palace.

He made the call a day after the end of registration period for presidential candidates and provincial councils’ members.

The registration period, set for Sept 16 to Oct 6 was wrapped up late Sunday night during which 27 politicians including a woman, according to the election body officials, had registered their names to contest the coming presidential polls, and 2,327 persons including 240 women had registered to stand for the Provincial Councils.

Congratulating the completion of the registration process of the candidates to the Afghans, the Afghan leader also called on government and foreigners not to interfere in the electoral process.

He also assured the impartiality of the establishment in the electoral process, saying, “the president and his two vice presidents do not support any particular candidate in the election race.”

Replying a question on inking security pact with the United States, the Afghan president reiterated “Afghanistan’s interests must be guaranteed” in the controversial pact.

However, he pointed that the people of Afghanistan would take the decision in a traditional Loya Jirga or grand assembly of tribal elders, notables and government functionaries; saying the Loya Jirga will possibly be convened within month.