ATN Nationwide Poll Finds More Than Ninety Percent of Afghans Want Peace and Fair Elections

KABUL, Afghanistan, March 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- More than ninety percent of Afghans overwhelmingly support a peaceful end to the nation's conflict, and the holding of free and fair elections, according to the results of a groundbreaking, first-ever nationwide poll of public opinion conducted by the Ariana Television Network (ATN).

The February 2019 survey, was implemented as a joint project between ATN, Afghanistan's leading news network, and NAI (http://nai.org.af), an Afghan based NGO that helps develop an independent Afghan media sector.  The survey utilized a robust and national representative sampling of 5,337 Afghans, who live in all 34 provinces of the country. The survey's questions were asked in three languages: Dari, Pasto and Uzbek. A majority of the survey's respondents lived in the following provinces:

• Kabul
• Nangarhar
• Herat
• Ghazni

Participants in the survey were asked a range of questions about peace and governance, including the following questions:

• Do you want peace?
• Do you want elections?

The results of the survey illustrated Afghans' paramount desire for a peaceful nation. 98.4% of the survey respondents favored peace and an end to conflict in Afghanistan. Governance was also a vital issue to Afghans. When asked 'Do you want elections?'  92.8% of Afghans—an overwhelming majority of the survey's respondents—endorsed the need for the nation to hold free and fair elections.

"The meaning of the survey is undeniable: with one united and powerful voice, Afghans want a peaceful and well-governed Afghanistan," said Dr. Ehsan Bayat, the Founder of ATN and the Chairman of The Bayat Group. "Peace—and a government that protects Afghans and works to make their lives better—we must achieve these two goals, so that together, we can build a hopeful future for our country."

About ATN:

Launched in 2005 by Mr. Ehsan Bayat, Founder of ATN and the Chairman of The Bayat Group (www.bayat-group.com), ARIANA Television (ATN) and Radio Ariana 93.5 are the largest private media channels in Afghanistan, covering 33 of 34 provinces and reaching over 25,000,000 Afghans.

Focusing on information, content and entertainment that rekindles Afghanistan's traditions and culture, ATN's programming places particular emphasis on education, health, children's programming, women's and world issues, and we take great pride in broadcasting accurate, unbiased news to our audience.

ATN provides the Afghan Nation with a "Window for a Better Tomorrow", by exposing our radio and television audiences to the best of international arts & culture and expanding opportunities for Afghan writers, producers, actors, and directors. Along with our affiliated enterprises – The Afghan Wireless Communication Company – and The Bayat Family Foundation, we employ and train more than 6,500 Afghans throughout the country and we are proud to have Afghans building and broadcasting ATN / Ariana 93.5 for all of Afghanistan.

PLEASE CONTACT:
Alberto Lopez
For Ariana Television
+1.917.330.4510
[email protected]

SOURCE Ariana Television Network