KABUL - Independent Election Commission (’IEC) officials on Wednesday said the voter registration campaign for the April 5 elections would be extended by one and a half month in order to establish more registration centers and appoint mobile teams.

IEC chief Mohammad Yousaf Nuristani, his Abdul Rahman Hotaki and Secretary Ziaul Haq Amarkhel were summoned to the Meshrano Jirga, upper house to brief lawmakers on preparations in connection with the presidential and provincial council elections.

They said registration centers had been established in district centers and residents in remote areas could not travel long distances to obtain voter cards from these facilities.

Nuristani said the decision to extend the campaign was aimed at registering more and more eligible voters as a public demand.

He said the commission also planned to establish registration centers in big villages, but gave no details. He said a huge turnout and wide representation of people would help convince the world that the elections were credible.

He said so far 1.4 million people, including 7000 Kuchi tribesmen, had obtained over cards, with women percentage increasing to 28.

Nuristani said the campaign could not be initiated so far in Baghran and Desho districts of southern Helmand province, Nawa in Ghazni, Kakar in Zabul and Kamdesh in eastern Nuristan due to security concerns.

Essential tools required for the registration are yet to reach Nikah district in southeastern Paktika and Alla Saee district of central Kapisa, he said, but added the materials would be dispatched soon to the areas.

The IEC chief ruled out the possibility of any change in the election timetable, insisting the vote would take place as scheduled. (Pajhwok)