Sons of ex-jihadis, media persons among Wolesi Jirga runners

KABUL leaders, political figures, former government officials and media persons are eyeing the lower house seats in October 20 polls.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) earlier in the day announced the preliminary list of Wolesi Jirga candidates, disqualifying 88 runners, including 20 women.

The list features parliamentary hopefuls from Kabul, Bamyan, Uruzgan, Nuristan, Khost and Kunar provinces, according to an announcement from the poll panel.

Sons of former jihadi and political figures

Sons of many known faces including Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Jamaluddin Hekmatyar, have nominated themselves for the Wolesi Jirga elections.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar heads the Hezb-i-Islami HIA which has entered a peace deal with the unity government.

Other key leaders’ sons who contesting the elections include Habib Rahman Sayyaf, the son of veteran former jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf, Mohammad Baqir Mohaqiq, the son of Mohammad Mohaqiq, second deputy Ehief Executive Officer, Mohammad Alam Khalili, the son of Karim Khalili, head of the High Peace Council, Ahmad Tamim Jurrat, the son of Gen. Din Mohammad Jurrat, a political figure,

Syed Mahdi Anwari, the son of Syed Hussain Anwari, head of the Harakat-i-Islami Afghanistan party have also jumped into the fray.

Media persons:

Baktash Syawash, Jibran, Samiullah Mehdi, Saleem Poya, Faizi Zadran, Salesha Saadat, Abdul Amin Haqjo, Fawad Aman, Mohammad Asghar Wakeel Popalzai, Mohammad Fahim Hashami, Mohammad Haroon Motaref, Maryam Sama, Muslim Sherzad, Mirwais Stanikzai, Noor Rahman Akhlaqi, Weda Saghar, Enayatullah Dedad, Syed Asghar Eshraq, Abdul Qader Hodkhel and Mohammad Alem Kheli are media activists standing in the upcoming Wolesi Jirga polls.

Former government officials

Asadullah Zameer, former minister of agriculture, Sayed Makhdom Rahin, former minister of information and cultural affairs, Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, former minister of economy, Tamim Nuristani and Salim Kunduzi, former governors, are among former government officials contesting the polls.

Current Wolesi Jirga Members:

Some Wolesi Jirga candidates representing different provinces would contest the election from Kabul and at least ten sitting Wolesi Jirga members are part of the IEC preliminary list.

Ahmad Behzad, a lawmaker from Herat, Obaidullah Brakzai, a lawmaker from Uruzgan, Shah Gul Rezae, a lawmaker from Ghazni, Abdul Rahim Ayubi Kandahar, Ghulam HussainNasari from Maidan Wardak, Ferashta Ameni from Nimroz, Mohammad Hassan Mamozai from Laghamn, Mohammad Nazir Ahmadzai, Khochi representative, Maulvi Abdul RahmanRahmani, a lawmaker from Balkh and Hellai Ershad, a Kochi representative, are among the Wolesi Jirga candidates from Kabul this time.

A number of Kabul provincial council members have also fielded themselves for the lower house elections.

They include Qari Sayed Umar Hotak, Habiba Qaderi, Masuma Murad, Syed Naqib Hashami, Syeda Masoud Yari, Maryam Sediqui, Mualvi Attaullah Faizan and Khatera Eshaq.

nh/ma