Ghani says firm on timely presidential election

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AT-KABUL: President Ashraf Ghani reiterated that the legislative and presidential elections would be held timely, with the first in October and the latter in April next year.

Ghani’s comments come while the armed opposition groups have recently intensified reactions to the government’s preparedness for the two elections, targeting voter registration centers.

He denounced the attacks against the registration centers as attack on democracy and transparent elections.

Ghani who was speaking Monday in the fifth international symposium of Afghan women, said that his service term as president of Afghanistan would conclude in June, 2019.

“We will surely hold parliament election this year, and we will surely hold presidential election next year. My term will end in June 2019 and we should be prepared for election on that day in the light of the constitution. Anyone who sabotages election, he sabotages stability,” said the president.

He condemned the recent terrorist attacks, saying killing and destruction was not responsibility, but was sedition which is ‘haram’ (forbidden) in Islam.

The president added that the “enemies of Afghanistan” do not have positive viewpoints for the future, challenging them for competition if they have positive views.

He called the people’s role basic in providing security, demanding them to play their roles.

Scores of people were killed and injured last day when a bomb attack targeted a mosque used as the voter registration center in Khost province. The attack followed several others targeting registration centers in other provinces including the deadliest one in Kabul in which at least 200 people were killed and wounded.

Security analysts doubt over the timely and transparent elections considering the increasing insecurity.

“I don’t believe that the parliament and presidential elections be held on time because of insecurity. The recent incidents have scared everyone,” security expert, Eshaq Atmar said.

But the government, especially security organs have assured of the secure elections.