Voting based on anything other than merit will have severe consequences for the nation, religious scholars said on Monday at a gathering in Mazar-e-Sharif. The scholars, who had gathered to discuss the role of religious leaders in the elections, emphasized the importance of people's participation in the elections.
“If god forbid, people vote based on their relations to a party, group or ethnicity and for for someone who is not qualified, there will be disastrous consequences," religious scholar Wazeen said.
“My request is that people take part in elections and choose someone Muslim, religious and patriotic,” Asadia Darul Uloom Official in Mazar-e-Sharif Zabiullah said.
The scholars believe that elections are a great opportunity for political power transfer and ask for people's wide participation in the presidential and provincial council elections.
“We must announce to the nation that they should participate in the elections and choose their leader,” religious scholar Abdul Rauf Tawana said.
“The election is the best way for political power transfer and a step for a free and independent Afghanistan,” another scholar Muhammad Zahir Hussaini said.
Furthermore, the scholars call participation in the elections a religious duty, asking that all mosques encourage people to vote.
Meanwhile, regional officials at the Independent Election Commission (IEC) in Balkh have said that the enemies of Afghanistan are trying to introduce elections as a western and non-Islamic phenomenon in order to create distrust among people. Religious scholars can play a major role in increasing people's awareness regarding the issue, according to IEC.
“Enemies of Afghanistan are trying to introduce elections as a western phenomenon. Scholars can play an important role in changing such outlook,” regional official at the IEC in Balkh Ezzatullah Arman said.