President denies backing any candidate

KABUL): President Hamid Karzai has said he is not backing any particular candidate for next year’s presidential elections.

The president told a delegation of the Afghanistan’s Network (AWN) reports in local and foreign media about his support for a specific candidate were baseless.

A statement from the Presidential Palace quoted Karzai as saying: “I don’t support any particular runner. It is the right of the people to choose their next president through an independent ballot.”

The presidential explanation comes a week after media reports said Karzai had urged political parties to back Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf, a former jihadi leader.

AWN representative Shafiqa Habibi, at the meeting with the president, called for ensuring the security of women voters.

She also demanded the appointment of a qualified woman as deputy attorney general and the inclusion of a female in the Supreme Court High Council and establishment of a board of women volunteers.

She called for reserving a seat in the lower house for the Hindu minority.

Acknowledging women’s role in the country’s development, Karzai said his government was trying to give females a proper role in the decision-making process.

He promised considering the demands and proposals presented by the AWN delegation.

ma/mud