Afghanistan: Slain Sikh leader's son leading in prelim poll results

Narender Singh Khalsa, the son of slain Sikh leader Avtar Singh, has secured a seat in the Lower House of the Parliament (Wolesi Jirga), according to Afghanistan Election Commission's preliminary results.

Narender has secured the seat on behalf of the Sikh and Hindu community of the country, as per a statement released by the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC). The parliamentary elections were held on October 20 last year. The final results are yet to be announced.

Besides Narender, eight individuals including Alhaj Asadullah Shahbaz, Mohammad Azim Mohsin, Atiqullah Ramin, Alhaj Mamor Ahmadzai, Dr. Mohammad Nasim Mudabir, Alhaj Ustad Abdul Razaq Hashim, Shukria Eisa Khel, and Nooria Hamidi have secured seats in the Lower House of the Parliament, reported Khaama Press.

Avtar, who was the lone Sikh candidate for the Wolesi Jirga elections, was killed in an ISIS attack in Jalalabad in July last year. He was amongst the 19 people who had lost their lives in the suicide blast.

Narender had also suffered injuries in the attack but later recovered and contested the parliamentary elections in place of his deceased father.