KOHAT, Sept 26: Afghan President Hamid Karzai's election agent for southern NWFP and the tribal areas, Mohammad Daud Zazi, on Sunday demanded that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) set up polling stations outside refugee camps for the large number of Afghans residing in the region.

Speaking at a press conference, he said the IOM had set up polling stations in refugee camps without taking into consideration the majority of Afghans living in Nasrat Khel and Jangle Khel areas. There was no polling station for at least 600 Afghans residing between camps No.1 and 2, he said.

He said no voting arrangements had been made for the refugees in Darra Adam Khel, which would deprive a large number of Afghans from taking part in the election. He said thousands of refugees living in South and North Waziristan, Sindh and Punjab had not been included in the election plan.

He claimed that lack of polling facilities in those areas would weaken the position President Karzai as a majority of voters there supported him. He said Mr Karzai was the only candidate whose hands were not stained with the blood of his countrymen.

He asked the leaders in the refugee camps to bring women to poll their votes. He said a larger number of women had registered in Bamyan and Paktia as compared with other parts of the country although the areas were regarded as strong holds of Taliban.

The election agent read a message of President Karzai in which he said the election would usher in an era of democracy and economic and political stability in the country. He said that if the people wanted to participate in the rehabilitation of their homeland they should take part in the elections and choose the right person.