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Forty Pakistani rebels and 24 suicide attackers have entered the country’s western zone to disrupt the count of votes and transfer of ballot boxes, officials alleged on Sunday. Deputy Minister of Interior Ikramudin Yawar told a news conference in Herat City the individuals had entered Herat, Ghor, Badghis and Farah provinces ahead of Saturday’s polls. But they failed to reach their targets due to tight security arrangements.
He said: “They still pose a major threat and may target election materials on the way from districts to provincial capitals and Kabul. However, security forces have put in place tight measures.”
According to Yawar, a total of 57 security threats were reported in the four provinces on the Election Day. He added one civilian, a policeman and three army soldiers were killed and six more security personnel injured.
He added 26 rebels were killed and seven others injured in the zone. Most of the casualties happened in the Tolak district of Ghor and Bala Baluk district of Farah provinces.
The security official said they had been able to ward off the threats to security for the polls following six months of hard work and hectic preparations.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Syed Fazlullah Wahidi also commended the massive turnout and dedication of security forces. He linked exhaustion of ballot centres at some stations to poor management of the election commission.
Criticising the non-existence of coordination among some local authorities and provincial electoral commission, Wahidi said they had tried to hold transparent polls and had been able to arrest eight individuals on fraud charges.
At the same time, the Herat police chief, said five policemen were injured in 20 different security incidents in the province. So far, ballot boxes from 268 sites had been dispatched to district centres and the process would be completed until 4:00pm, he concluded.
He said: “They still pose a major threat and may target election materials on the way from districts to provincial capitals and Kabul. However, security forces have put in place tight measures.”
According to Yawar, a total of 57 security threats were reported in the four provinces on the Election Day. He added one civilian, a policeman and three army soldiers were killed and six more security personnel injured.
He added 26 rebels were killed and seven others injured in the zone. Most of the casualties happened in the Tolak district of Ghor and Bala Baluk district of Farah provinces.
The security official said they had been able to ward off the threats to security for the polls following six months of hard work and hectic preparations.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Syed Fazlullah Wahidi also commended the massive turnout and dedication of security forces. He linked exhaustion of ballot centres at some stations to poor management of the election commission.
Criticising the non-existence of coordination among some local authorities and provincial electoral commission, Wahidi said they had tried to hold transparent polls and had been able to arrest eight individuals on fraud charges.
At the same time, the Herat police chief, said five policemen were injured in 20 different security incidents in the province. So far, ballot boxes from 268 sites had been dispatched to district centres and the process would be completed until 4:00pm, he concluded.
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