Local News Summary - Sept 17
In today's local news: Karzai urges Afghans to vote; two candidates and 18 election and campaign workers kidnapped in three provinces; hospitals on election standby; 52,000 police dispatched; IEC worker beaten in Helmand; night letters in Balkh.
Karzai urges Afghans, Including Taliban, to vote
Ottawa Citizen, Sept 17
President Hamid Karzai Friday called on all Afghans, including Taliban militants, to vote in the country's parliamentary election at the weekend. "We hope that our people in every corner of our country, in every city of our country and every province will go to polling stations and vote for their favourite candidate and through the vote lead our country to further stability," he said.
Speaking to reporters at his palace, he urged voters not to be swayed by gifts from candidates but to vote "from their hearts" and called on "those Taliban who are the sons of this country" to participate in the election. [AFP]
Afghanistan hit by poll-eve kidnappings
BBC, Sept 17
Two Afghan candidates for Saturday's parliamentary elections and 18 poll officials and campaign workers have been kidnapped. The Taliban's spokesman claimed to have abducted the would-be MPs in the eastern Laghman province and western Herat province. The militants separately said they had seized 18 poll officials and campaign workers in north-western Badghis province. The Taliban have threatened countrywide attacks on Saturday targeting voters and election workers. [BBC]
Free Medical Service During Election
Pajhwok Afghan News, Sept 17
About 40 private hospitals in Kabul are on standby to provide free emergency service during the election, an official said on Thursday. Director of private hospitals association, Aminullah Tokhi, said all private hospitals have been instructed to have medical teams and ambulances ready for emergency situations.
52,000 Afghan Police Dispatched to Secure the Elections
TOLO, Sept 17
The spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs (MoI) said on Thursday that 52,000 policemen have been dispatched to different parts of Afghanistan as part of security plans for the election. "We have dispatched nearly 52,000 policemen to ensure security for the polling stations all over the country," the spokesperson for MoI, Zemarai Bashari, told reporters in a joint press conference with NATO spokesman in the Ministry compound. Mr Bashari said 12 top police commanders have been appointed for different provinces. [TOLO]
Police Beat, Lock up IEC worker in Helmand
Pajhwok Afghan News, Sept 17
Police beat up and detained an Independent Election Commission (IEC) worker in southern Helmand province on Thursday, officials said. Abdul Bari, IEC head of the Nadali district, said police behaved unprofessionally when the commission workers visited the district. Police beat one of the workers and detained him for some time when the workers asked about some issues that needed to be resolved. [PAN]
Night Letters Warn People Against Voting in Balkh
Pajhwok Afghan News, Sept 17
Taliban have distributed night letters in a district of northern Balkh province, threatening people against going to polling stations for voting in Saturday's parliamentary election, residents said on Thursday. Local officials also confirmed the distribution of night letters in the Chamtal district, but said the area was under control. [PAN]
TOLO TV news
Reports, Sept 17, 2010
In Ghor province the National Directorate of Security has arrested a man with 1000 fake voter registration cards. Abdullah Abdullah has condemned the Taliban for its anti-election campaign and has asked people to participate in the election in large numbers. The IEC states that 60 percent of election material has already reached to provinces and 40 percent will be delivered today.
IEC has reported two of its workers have been murdered in Balkh province. The Ministry of Interior has said that with a presidential decree 12 high ranking police officials whose relatives were running in election from the areas of their duty has been transferred to other regions in order to ensure the conduct of a fair election. Voters and candidates are worried about the security situation on the Election Day in northern Kunduz province. There are reports that Taliban have distributed night letters and have asked the people to stay away from the polling sites.
The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in Mazar has expressed concerns about the night letters and the security situation in northern provinces. They have also said in their report that due to bad security situation the people are worried about the election fraud.
Night Letters Warn People Against Voting in Balkh
Pajhwok Afghan News, Sept 17
Taliban have distributed night letters in a district of northern Balkh province, threatening people against going to polling stations for voting in Saturday's parliamentary election, residents said on Thursday. Local officials also confirmed the distribution of night letters in the Chamtal district, but said the area was under control. [PAN]
