Afghan refugees in Pakistan yearn to vote

Source: Reuters

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Qutub-ud-din, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, is keen to vote in this week's presidential election in his country, but cannot.

"Why not?" the 50-year-old Afghan refugee, selling vegetables in a dusty neighbourhood in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, said when asked whether he wanted to cast his ballot.

Unlike the previous presidential election in 2004, Afghan election authorities have not made arrangements for about 2.5 million refugees in Pakistan and Iran to take part in Thursday's polls. Most are too poor to make the trip home just to vote.

"I am earning a meagre living for my five children by selling these onions and potatoes. If I go to Afghanistan to vote, who will feed my family?" said Qutub-ud-din.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSISL189869