Sunday, June 15, 2014
Kabul (BNA) Around seven million people participated in the presidential runoff election, with women constituting 38 percent of them, the Independent Election Commission chief said on Saturday.
Ahmad Yousaf Nuristani told a press conference about seven million people, 62 percent men and 38 percent women cast their votes in the historic election.
He said the turnout was about 58 percent and thanked security forces for what he said doing tremendous job during the election process.
Nuristani also congratulated the nation on the successful conduct of the election, which he said was not an easy process, but needed tough work.
“We have good achievements in this election. It was an Afghan-led process,” he said, adding Afghan forces secured the ballot on their own.
Nuristani also said there were reports about fraud and rigging pouring in from across the country.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Omar Daudzai said the Afghan successfully came out of the election process.
He claimed most enemy attacks were foiled on the elections day increasing people’s trust in their security forces.
He said the Afghans rejected terrorism and violence by casting their votes.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff Gen Sher Mohammad Karimi said security forces maintained good coordination among them and were also extended a helping hand by the people during the election.
“We have casualties today but not as much as the enemy desired. Instead the enemy suffered more casualties,” Gen. Karimi said.
