Candidates begin campaign for Afghan parliament polls

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

Electoral campaign for Afghanistan's long-due parliamentary elections, scheduled for Oct. 20, began on Friday.

Main roads, markets and other public places in the capital Kabul and all other major urban centers have been painted with colorful posters, banners hoardings of the candidates.

In line with the rules chalked out by the country’s election commission announced on Tuesday, candidates for the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) can campaign till October 18, two days before the scheduled polls.

It has also set limits for financial resources a candidate can utilize for the campaign. Each candidate in the capital Kabul can spend no more than AFN 2.12 million [approximately $27,725 ] on the posters, media advertisement and other campaign maneuvers.

Syed Hafeezullah Hashimi, a spokesman for the commission, told Anadolu Agency the electoral body is committed to holding fair and free elections on time, and the candidates’ campaigns are being monitored for possible violations that could result in disqualification.

The election commission has directed public sector employees and security officials to remain neutral and committed to fair and timely elections.

Earlier this week, a coalition of main political parties, Grand National Alliance of Afghanistan, end its protest and boycott of the proposed polls upon the government’s assurance to utilize biometric verification of voters for the polls.

Afghans are set to go to polls for the 249-seat lower house of parliament for a five-year term on Oct. 20. As per the election commission figures, over nine million voters, including three million women, are eligible to cast their votes.