Karzai’s successor: Millions of Afghans vote in historic polls
Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani claim early victories in largely peaceful election .
Women wait to cast their ballots at a polling station in Mazar-i-Sharif. PHOTO: REUTERS
KABUL:
Polling in Afghanistan’s crucial presidential and provincial councils’ elections on Saturday concluded relatively peacefully with more than 50% turnout as two front runners – Abdullah Abdullah and Dr Ashraf Ghani – claimed early victories.
The turnout for Afghanistan’s presidential election could exceed seven million – more than half of the eligible voters, said the head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani.
An estimated 3.5 million people had voted by midday, five hours after polls opened, 64% of them men and 36% women, he told a news conference in Kabul. “This figure may have increased to more than seven million by 5:00 pm,” he added. Polls officially closed at that time.
There had been fears that another low turnout would undermine the legitimacy of whoever succeeds President Hamid Karzai, who is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms in office.
Millions of Afghans ignored the Taliban threats and thronged to polling centres despite bad weather and rains in many parts of the country. More than 200 of 6,400 voting centres across the country remained closed due to security concerns.
The Taliban, however, failed to launch any major attack despite their repeated threats. Some minor incidents occurred in parts of the country, officials said. Officials said the militants seized ballot boxes from two polling stations and threw them into a river in a border area between Baghlan and Bamyan provinces.
Interior Minister Umer Daudzai, who flanked Nuristani at the press conference, said that at least four people were killed in elections-related violence. Afghan media had earlier reported 10 deaths.
Daudzai alleged that Pakistani forces fired rockets into several Afghan villages on the election day and over the past few days. “Pakistan had promised help in peaceful elections but they used artillery to fire rockets. The TTP also crosses into Afghanistan in the night and return after attacks,” he claimed.
The front-runner Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and another candidate Gul Agha Sherzai claimed fraud in some areas.
Ahmadzai told a news conference that the high turnout had frustrated Afghanistan’s enemies. “We have shared evidence of irregularities with the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC),” he said and added that his supporters had not been involved in rigging.
He urged the IEC to exercise complete neutrality in filing the results. He claimed that initial results show that he has received nearly 90 per cent of the votes polled in the landmark elections. However, Ahmadzai’s rival, Dr Abdullah Abdullah also claimed victory. “We are receiving initial results which show that I am leading,” Abdullah told a news conference in Kabul. He criticised the election staff for failure to arrange enough ballot papers.
He also alleged the ‘misuse’ of government resources in favour of one specific candidate, adding that his team has conveyed complaints to the IECC.
President Hamid Karzai said in a televised message that the high turnout has once again proved Afghans’ ability and capacity on all fronts. “By participating in the vote, the Afghans from all parts of the country had shown the world their sovereignty, political vision and democratic credentials.”
The president said the people participation in the elections is a move towards peace, stability and prosperity of the country he has ruled for 13 years.
The US Embassy in Kabul congratulated the Afghans on the peaceful and successful elections. “Now, it’s up to the electoral bodies to impartially fulfill their duty to tabulate results, address complaints of fraud and improprieties,” an embassy statement said. “Today’s election is about the future of Afghanistan and the rejection of the Taliban and their murderous attacks.”
The Nato secretary general also congratulated the millions of Afghan men and women from across the country who cast their votes with such an impressive turnout and enthusiasm.
“Every vote counts, and every single one is a vote for democracy. Afghans, young and old, have clearly shown their determination to have a say in the future of their country,” he said in a statement posted on its website.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2014.
Polling in Afghanistan’s crucial presidential and provincial councils’ elections on Saturday concluded relatively peacefully with more than 50% turnout as two front runners – Abdullah Abdullah and Dr Ashraf Ghani – claimed early victories.
The turnout for Afghanistan’s presidential election could exceed seven million – more than half of the eligible voters, said the head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani.
An estimated 3.5 million people had voted by midday, five hours after polls opened, 64% of them men and 36% women, he told a news conference in Kabul. “This figure may have increased to more than seven million by 5:00 pm,” he added. Polls officially closed at that time.
There had been fears that another low turnout would undermine the legitimacy of whoever succeeds President Hamid Karzai, who is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms in office.
Millions of Afghans ignored the Taliban threats and thronged to polling centres despite bad weather and rains in many parts of the country. More than 200 of 6,400 voting centres across the country remained closed due to security concerns.
The Taliban, however, failed to launch any major attack despite their repeated threats. Some minor incidents occurred in parts of the country, officials said. Officials said the militants seized ballot boxes from two polling stations and threw them into a river in a border area between Baghlan and Bamyan provinces.
Interior Minister Umer Daudzai, who flanked Nuristani at the press conference, said that at least four people were killed in elections-related violence. Afghan media had earlier reported 10 deaths.
Daudzai alleged that Pakistani forces fired rockets into several Afghan villages on the election day and over the past few days. “Pakistan had promised help in peaceful elections but they used artillery to fire rockets. The TTP also crosses into Afghanistan in the night and return after attacks,” he claimed.
The front-runner Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and another candidate Gul Agha Sherzai claimed fraud in some areas.
Ahmadzai told a news conference that the high turnout had frustrated Afghanistan’s enemies. “We have shared evidence of irregularities with the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC),” he said and added that his supporters had not been involved in rigging.
He urged the IEC to exercise complete neutrality in filing the results. He claimed that initial results show that he has received nearly 90 per cent of the votes polled in the landmark elections. However, Ahmadzai’s rival, Dr Abdullah Abdullah also claimed victory. “We are receiving initial results which show that I am leading,” Abdullah told a news conference in Kabul. He criticised the election staff for failure to arrange enough ballot papers.
He also alleged the ‘misuse’ of government resources in favour of one specific candidate, adding that his team has conveyed complaints to the IECC.
President Hamid Karzai said in a televised message that the high turnout has once again proved Afghans’ ability and capacity on all fronts. “By participating in the vote, the Afghans from all parts of the country had shown the world their sovereignty, political vision and democratic credentials.”
The president said the people participation in the elections is a move towards peace, stability and prosperity of the country he has ruled for 13 years.
The US Embassy in Kabul congratulated the Afghans on the peaceful and successful elections. “Now, it’s up to the electoral bodies to impartially fulfill their duty to tabulate results, address complaints of fraud and improprieties,” an embassy statement said. “Today’s election is about the future of Afghanistan and the rejection of the Taliban and their murderous attacks.”
The Nato secretary general also congratulated the millions of Afghan men and women from across the country who cast their votes with such an impressive turnout and enthusiasm.
“Every vote counts, and every single one is a vote for democracy. Afghans, young and old, have clearly shown their determination to have a say in the future of their country,” he said in a statement posted on its website.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2014.