About 35 male and female cyclists came together and covered a 12km route on their bicycles in protest against government before meeting with President Ashraf Ghani’s second Vice President Mohammad Sarwar Danish. 

They called on government to resolve a number of issues and to improve governance, combat corruption and end social injustice. 

The cyclists were from Balkh, Bamiyan, Herat and Kabul provinces. 

“I participated in the race on behalf of Kabul, I want to ask government to improve good governance and bring reforms,” said one cyclist from Kabul, Latifa Sultani. 

“One of the messages of our ride is that women also have rights in society and they have the right to cycle on the roads,” said Balkh cyclist Sonia Noorzai. 

“There is a need for change, there is a need for the voice of youths, sportsmen and women to be heard,” said cyclist Zabiullah Qahar.

They told Danish that Afghan women have suffered political, social, economic and cultural isolation.

“Good governance and implementation of reforms in government institutions and providing better services to the people are among our fundamental aspirations,” said organizer Munira Jalali.

“We want to say the people of Afghanistan are aware, the people of Afghanistan breathe, the people of Afghanistan want government to improve good governance,” said sportsman Hamid Akbar.

But, Danish said that restoring sustainable peace in Afghanistan requires a strong government and strong nation. 

“We see success in nation building and government building processes, sustainable peace in Afghanistan will be restored automatically without resorting to war and violence,” said Danish.