Presidential race hots up; more join the fray

KABUL): President Hamid Karzai’s close confidant Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf on Thursday formally registered as a candidate for the 2014 presidential election, as the race is gradually hotting up.

Accompanied by hundreds of supporters, the Daawat-i-Islami chief filed his nomination papers with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) main office in Kabul — a day after he stood down as a parliamentarian.

On Wednesday, the noted religious scholar announced his resignation as a member of the Wolesi Jirga. Minister of Water and Energy Ismail Khan is his choice for the first vice-president.

Senator Maulvi Abdul Wahab Irfan, a member of the Junbish-i-Milli party from Takhar province, has been chosen as his 2nd vice-president (VP).  

Also present on the occasion were Wolesi Jirga Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, Senate Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar, parliamentarians, members of jihadi groups and others.

Earlier in the day, Fazal Karim Najimi also registered with the IEC. Najimi has served as director of the Famine Early Warning System, a USAID.

Having done his masters in Food Safety from an American university, he told Pajhwok Afghan News he had chosen Mohammad Saber Tamkin as his first vice-president and Sosan Hajati as his second-vice president.

Two days ago, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the National Collation of Afghanistan (NCA) leader, and Bismillah Sher of the National Unity party filed their nomination papers for the vote.

Mohammad Mohaqiq, Gul Agha Sherzai, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Abdul Rahim Wardak have also resigned their positions, indicating their plans to run in the elections.

Since the nomination process started on Sept. 16, 73 individuals including three women have so far received information kits on presidential elections.

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