By Aaquib Khan, TwoCircles.net,
The streets in Kabul and whole Afghanistan are filled with posters of Presidential and provincial candidates. Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan is encouraging people to come forward and vote in elections which will be held on 5th April 2014. This election is the third presidential poll since the fall of the Taliban.
Afghans head to the poll to choose President Hamid Karzai’s successor. Dr. Ashraf Ghani (Mid) former Finance Minister and Chancellor of Kabul University is a Pashtun, along with Abdul Rashid Dostam (L), Uzbek leader and former defence minister is his first vice president and Sarwar Danish (R), Hazara leader and former minister for higher education is his second vice president candidates.
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (Mid) former Minister of Foreign Affairs is contesting the election with Mohammad Khan, a Pashtun (L) as his first V.P and Mohammad Mohaqiq, a Hazara and the current leader of Wahdat Islami of the people of Afghanistan (R) as his second V.P. Dr. Abdullah is a doctor in medicine. He was an adviser and a close friend of Ahmad Shah Masoud, the Northern Alliance leader and commander known as the “Lion of Panjshir”, who was assassinated in September 2001.
Dr. Zalmai Rassoul (L) former Foreign Minister’s team has Ahmad Zia Masoud, who is the brother of Ahmad Shah Masoud and Habiba Sorabi who is a Haematologist, in 2005 she was appointed as Governor of Bamyan Province by President Hamid Karzai, which made her the first Afghan woman to become a governor of any province in the country. Dr. Rassoul who too is a medical doctor and has over 30 publications in European and American medical journals is also a member of the American Society of Nephrology.
Professor Abdur Rab Rasul Sayyaf (L), Pashtun and former Mujahedeen leader and hard-line Islamist. He is considered the man who first invited Osama bin Laden to Afghanistan after his expulsion from Sudan. He also gave his name to the Philippine insurgent group Abu Sayyaf, and the 9/11 commission reports mention him as “mentor” to the attack’s mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
The election will be held on 5th April. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the first round – which with 8 candidates is unlikely, unless someone reverts to massive fraud – a second round must be held pitting the top two candidates against each other. That means that although the poll is set for April 5th, the process could go on for months.
Security will mostly be provided by Afghan security forces, although the shrinking NATO mission has offered help with logistics, including air transport of ballots and other essential supplies. Afghanistan’s snowy mountains, harsh deserts and limited infrastructure in many provinces will be a challenge for organisers. In past elections have relied heavily on both high-tech air transport and traditional solutions such as donkeys to get ballot papers and boxes to more remote areas.
During election rallies women participation is also quite visible; where in quite high numbers they are coming to listen to their favourite candidates.
People from different parts of the country and ethnicities are participating in the election rallies in large number even when security situation is still a matter of concern for most of the people.
Many youngsters are eager for the elections and they are taking part in the elections whole heartedly.
A big banner near the now ruined Darul Aman Palace in Kabul showing another Presidential candidate Engineer Qutubbuddin Hilal (R) with his two colleagues as his first and second candidates for the positions of vice president.
Zarange, a local innovation in Parwan province of Afghanistan having posters of Presidential and Provincial candidates.
A large number of woman candidates are participating in the provincial election which is going to happen simultaneously with Presidential election on 5th April. Weda Sayyedi (in picture) is contesting the provincial election from Panjshir province.
According to UNDP report, approximately 68 percent of the Afghan population is under the age of 25, and they are expected to play a major role in determining the results of this year’s presidential and provincial councils elections. A large number of youth and women are participating as candidates in provincial councils election.
Related:
Afghanistan keen on April 5 presidential poll despite repeated terror attacks
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