| So they don't count, y'see... |
The September 18 general elections in Afghanistan are irrelevant for many Afghans living in Pakistan, who are alien to the parliamentary system of government in the country. "What matters is the presidency. The Shura and the rest is useless," said Mullah Wadood, an ex-commander of the Hikmatyar regime. He said that millions would be spent on the elections but they will not make a difference. "I am not sure the practice will bring any good to the country," Wadood said.Asmatullah, an Afghan refugee and a keen observer of the developments in Afghanistan, said the refugees are being denied their right to vote. He said that the polling for the presidential elections was arranged in Pakistan because President Hamid Karzai needed their votes. They have been asked to go to Afghanistan to register to vote in the general elections. He said it was not financially viable for the refugees to visit Afghanistan twice or to shut down their businesses for a long visit.