Bissmillah Bissmil, Chairman of the UN-sponsored Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB), Saturday called on Afghans to use their franchise in the key parliamentary elections Sunday.

"We are now on the eve of the most important phase of the electoral process, the Election Day. It is the day of decision-making by Afghans and for Afghans. It is a chance to embrace and respect freedom: freedom of choice and freedom of being chosen," he told journalists at a press conference. Over 12.4 million Afghans are going to elect their representatives for the parliament and provincial councils from

among nearly 5,800 candidates on September 18 amid tight security safeguarded by more than 100,000 Afghan army, police, NATO and US-led coalition troops.

Assuring people that their votes will be secret, Bissmil advised people to cast their votes in favor of honest candidates without any fear.

"The vote is secret. No one will ever be able to know whom you voted for. Therefore, do not be intimidated or frightened by empty threats of those who attempt to influence your vote," he pointed out.

Parallel to Taliban's threat, a number of warlords and influential figures are trying to influence voters in favor of certain candidates in the key polls while militants in a stern warning the other day warned people to boycott the elections.

Source:Xinhua