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Slow registration may delay Afghan elections

ISLAMABAD: The upcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan are likely to be postponed because of the sluggish response by 800,000 potential voters living as refugees in Pakistan during the first two days of the three-day registration period. Preliminary figures released by the International Organisation for Migration, which is overseeing the registration process, indicated that only 140,000 refugees registered on the first day (Friday). Official sources told Daily Times that a decision on whether to postpone the elections or not would be taken on either Sunday (today) or Monday. The elections are scheduled for October 9. Some of the presidential candidates have demanded that the participation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan must be ensured. Sources said authorities would wait until the last day of the registration process to ascertain an accurate voter pool figure. Refugee voters in Pakistan along with an anticipated 600,000 refugee voters in Iran were expected to constitute 10 percent of the total vote if they register. Some 10.5 million voters are already registered inside Afghanistan. However, the low turnout could be attributed to the fact that few Afghan communities were willing to allow women to participate in the voting, said an IOM press release. The number of registered female voters is low, making up only 22 percent of the 140,000 who registered on Friday, IOM spokesman Greg Bearup said. However, IOM female community mobilisers are being sent out to encourage Afghan communities to let their women register. Extending the registration process to a fourth day would be considered if the IOM failed to meet its target of registered voters. shahzad raza and iqbal khattak

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