Second Vice President Muhammad Karim Khalili spoke of the government's commitment to holding transparent and just elections in April at a gathering on Friday.
The gathering was held to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the death of Ali Mazari, a Jihadi leader who was killed by the Taliban. However, most of the speeches at the event, like Kahilili's, were related to the upcoming elections, which are expected to be pivotal in determining the future of the country as the NATO combat mission comes to an end after 13 years of war.
Khalili urged people to participate in the elections and emphasized on the importance of participation for the results to be legitimate.
"As you have heard from the president many times, the government is determined to ensure transparency in the elections," Khalili said. "We hope that you will go to the voting centers to cast ballots."
Khalili called the last decade of Afghanistan "golden" and expressed happiness about the achievements made during the period, labeling them unprecedented.
In somewhat of a surprise, Khalili also criticized - though indirectly - some of the presidential candidates.
"You are candidates and the leaders of a new chapter, it is not right for you to take stands and accuse people of things; you are not a young kid on the street," Khalili said without getting into any specifics. "Taking stands does not suit your candidacy or your leadership."
Meanwhile, presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, who also spoke at the gathering, emphasized the importance of women's presence in the election process. Ghani also pledged that if he is elected he would increase efforts for national solidarity and inclusivity, enfranchising all ethnicities.
"Enmity under different names is not acceptable to us," Ghani said. "We are all the same before the constitution and the law. We are brothers and sisters - we are equal."
Source/Fuente: http://www.tolonews.com/elections2014/khalili-focuses-elections-progress...
