Polls close in Afghanistan amid reports of sporadic attacks

Voting in Afghanistan’s presidential election has ended amid complaints of irregularities and serious security incidents in several provinces.

According to Press TV, the Independent Election Commission said polls closed at 5:00 pm local time (1230 GMT) after a two-hour extension due to long lines of people.

About 9.6 million of the 34 million population were registered to vote for one of the 14 candidates. The two main candidates are the incumbent President Ashraf Ghani, and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

Observers from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission said the turnout appeared to be low, especially among women.

Polling stations collected the votes under the protection of 100,000 Afghan forces with air support from US forces. Five thousand centers were set up across the country, according to security officials.

Authorities banned trucks from entering the capital Kabul in an effort to stop would-be bombers targeting residents as they cast their votes.

The Taliban was not idle throughout. The militant group carried out bombings and mortar attacks at some polling stations. Two civilians have been killed and over two dozen have been injured in the attacks. The Provinces of Kunduz, Nangarhar, Kabul, Bamiyan and Kandahar witnessed security incidents.

Polling centers in areas under the Taliban control were closed due to security concerns.

Mohiuddin, 55, who only gave one name, said, “I know there are security threats but bombs and attacks have become part of our everyday lives.”

“I am not afraid, we have to vote if we want to bring changes.”

Ziyarat Khan, a farmer in Nangarhar, said, “I came this early morning to cast my ballot. Unfortunately my name was not on the list.”

“The whole process is messy like the last time.”

Preliminary results are not expected until October 19. Candidates need more than 50 percent of the votes to be declared outright winner, or else the top two will head for a second round in November.

Ghani, having voted at a Kabul high school, said the most important issue was finding a leader with a mandate to bring peace to the war-torn country. “Our roadmap (for peace) is ready, I want the people to give us permission and legitimacy so that we pursue peace.”

ME