Number of presidential runners rises to 9 (Video)

KABUL (PAN): With the presidential race gradually picking up steam, more candidates on Saturday formally filed their nomination papers with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) for the 2014 vote.

On the penultimate day of the three-week candidate registration process, the number of presidential aspirants rose to nine. The number is expected to further increase tomorrow.  

Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai, a brother of ex-finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, and Qutbuddin Hilal of the Gulbadin Hekmatyar-led Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan registered themselves with IEC.

HIA has several factions, with the one led by Hekmatyar still engaged in an armed struggle against the government and NATO-led foreign troops.

Number of presidential runners rises to 9 from Pajhwok Afghan News.