JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Supportive of Zalmai Rassoul in the April 5 vote, the Pashayee tribe in the eastern zone on Tuesday announced to back Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in the second round of the presidential polls.
The tribe made the decision at a well-attended meeting in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province. Tribal elder Noor Agha Malikzai said the Pashayees would vote for Ahmadzai on June 14.
He recalled the tribe had supported Rassoul in the last election but would back Ahmadzai in the runoff. “A number of elders are here to demonstrate support to Ahmadzai. I’m doing so on behalf of my tribe.”
Ahmadzai was a man of high calibre and international stature, he noted, saying the tribe had held a series of consultative meetings before deciding to swing behind the candidate.
Haji Musa, another Pashayee tribal elder, said Ahmadzai was the only leader who could steer Afghanistan out of crisis and put it on the road to durable progress and prosperity.
“If Ahmadzai gets to the presidency, Afghanistan can compete and go side by side with the comity of nations. We need to unite behind him to rebuild the country,” he added.
Muhammad Sadiq Patman, Ahmadzai’s campaign manager, thanked the tribe and said he expected the decision. “We will join hands to make Ahmadzai win the contest,” he said.
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