KABUL: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Tuesday said that they are ready to ensure security during the polling process and avoid any untoward incident.
Assuring voters of foolproof security, Chief of the Election Security Commission, Gen. Salem Ehsas, in a press conference said that according to their final assessment 6,356 polling centers will remain open on June 14 while 813 others in 11 different provinces will be closed due to different reasons.
Insecurity, insufficient number of voters, displacement of residents, impassable routes are main reasons behind closure of the 813 voting centers. Polling sites that would remain close are in remote areas and far from capitals of the districts, said Ehsas, adding, the sites are in Farah, Herat, Kunar, Jawzjan, Nuristan, Nangarhar, Badakhshan, Badghes, Saripul, Helmand and Ghor provinces.
When asked about protest of young voters who criticized the government for decreasing number of the polling centers in Herat province due to insecurity, Gen. Ehsas replied that the decision was taken by a joint team comprising of local, Afghan National Army, National Directorate of Security, and IEC officials as well as police chief.
Voters in Herat protested against decision of the joint team which is responsible for smooth process of the voting in the country. The protesters said that though there was no issue of insecurity in some areas but yet the team decreased number of the polling centers.
Gen. Ehsas further said that 12,500 policewomen will perform duties on the Election Day while 300 others would remain on standby.
Sensitive and non-sensitive materials have already been shifted to the capitals of the provinces and will be transferred soon to the districts, he said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for Interior Ministry, Seddiq Seddiqi, said the ANP has made full preparations to ensure security during second round of the presidential election. He said the police force would not allow anti-democratic forces to sabotage the runoff election.
On the other hand senators have asked the IEC to make sure the runoff poll is fair and free. They also urged the citizens to participate in the second round and make the presidential election successful through high turnout.
Afghansitantimes
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