Election candidate shot dead in Afghan province

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan: Unknown gunmen shot dead an election candidate in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar Tuesday night, a provincial government spokesman said Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Mohammad Nasir Mubaraz, who registered to contest in Wolesi Jirga or the Lower House of parliament election.

The victim was killed in Police District 2 of Kandahar city, capital of Kandahar province Tuesday night, spokesman Aziz Ahmad Azizi told Xinhua news agency.

He said the gunmen fled the scene shortly after the firing and a probe was underway into the incident.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far, over the past few months, the country has witnessed waves of terror attacks by the Daesh group of militantsandtheTalibaninsurgent group opposing the country’s long- delayed parliamentary and district councils elections slated on Oct 20, this year.

Since the start of the voter registration process in mid-April, 55 people, including two electoral workers, several security force members and civilians have been killed during the election-related violence.

Tuesday’s killing brought to seven,thenumberofparliamentary election runners killed before the election day.

Over nine million registered voters, including three million women, will cast their ballots to elect members of the 249- seat lower house of parliament for a five-year term while they will also vote to elect members of the district councils. — Bernama