Tuesday September 13, 2005
Herat City: Three young female candidates in western Herat and northern Badakhshan provinces are likely to grab seats in the next set up owing to their sheer facial beauty and attractive photographs.Hundreds of supporters, who have never come in direct contact with the three females, are buying their pictures for as much as 150 afghani. Many more have pasted the photographs on their shops and cars without having any information about them.
However, the three aspirants, Qaeda Afif from Herat and Fauzia Gilani and Fauzia Kofabi from Badakhshan said they had never intended to get voter's support through their looks. "We want to serve our country and our people and the electorates should support us for our future plans rather than opting to vote for our photographs," said the three aspirants.
Their rivals, on the other hand, charged them of exploiting their beauty to create support for themselves. Jamshida Ahmadi, a candidate for the lower house, without specifically naming any one, told Pajhwok Afghan News some female candidates were trying to attract people by using their photographs.
Mohammad Karim, a shopkeeper at Herat City, who has pasted several posters of Qaida Afif at the wall of his shop, said: "I shall vote for that lady because I like her. "We know none of them but we are determined to vote for the most beautiful," said the smiling Karim.
A taxi driver Faridoon Mohammadi said posters of Qaida Afif and Fauzia Gilani were being sold both in Faizabad and Herat City for as much as 150 Afghani three dollars.
But the 28-year-old Qaida Afif spurned all such allegations, saying people favoured her for being young, educated and energetic. The smiley-faced and dark-eyed Qaida Afif is considered one of the hot favourites among election candidates in Herat. As many as 49 females are in the run for the five seats reserved for women in Herat.
Safiullah (40), resident of Faizabad, capital of the northern Badakhshan, said Fauzia Kofabi's photographs had been sold at 50 afghani in the city.
Mohammad Azim, a baker in Faizabad, whose shop was pasted with Fauzia's posters, said a number of young men wished to purchase the pictures but he did not sell it.
Shabana, one of Fauzia Kofabi's election campaign deputies, when contacted by this scribe, expressed ignorance about the selling of posters like hot cakes. "We don't care about what people say," said the campaigner, adding let people express their will.
Kofabi, 30, is a UNICIF staffer who also served with the organisation during the rule of the hardliner regime in Kabul. She also served as an English teacher in the province.
A regional official of the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) Syed Murtaza said no one had lodged a complaint with them about the sale of posters.