In a first-ever move, three women were elected on Saturday – out of 15 - to the top leadership positions of the Wardak Provincial Council. 

Halima Askari, Nafisa Selai and Hajar Mirzaee were elected as chairperson, deputy head and secretary of the provincial council respectively.

This happened in an insecure province where violence against women is still a problem and is uncommon across Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, members of Badakhshan Provincial Council also elected their leadership on Saturday. 

Bashir Samim was elected as head of the council while Sardar Sarwari and Ahmad Jawed Raghi was elected as deputy head and secretary of the council.

The Independent Directorate of Local Governance said that provincial council leadership elections were carried out in 34 provinces on Saturday.

Badakhshan governor’s spokesman Ahmad Faisal Begzad called on the new leadership of the provincial council to help overcome the challenges faced by the local residents.

“I am really satisfied with the activities of the Badakhshan provincial council, but despite that I ask all the members of the council to stand by the people and government,” he said.