Campaign

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Presidential runner Dr. Zalmai Rassoul on Saturday promised promotion of the agriculture sector and strengthening security in southern Kandahar province.
Addressing a public meeting here in connection with his election campaign, Rassoul said he would focus on improvement in the two areas in Kandahar if he won the April 5 presidential vote.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Two political parties threw their weight behind presidential candidate Dr. Zalmai Rassoul at a gathering marking the 19th death anniversary of Abul Ali Mazari, the founder of Wahdat-i-Milli Islami party, in Kabul on Thursday.
Mazari was killed by the Taliban in 1995 in Kabul after inviting him for a political dialogue and thrown his body from a helicopter in southern Ghazni province on the way to Kandahar.
Followers of Mazari carried his body on foot to Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, where he was laid to rest.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Hundreds of religious leaders coming from a number of provinces to Kabul on Monday said they would support presidential candidate Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in next month’s elections and urged him to implement Sharia law if he won.
Nearly 400 religious scholars attended the gathering in Kabul and announced their support to Ahmadzai, a former finance minister, who is among the 10 presidential candidates vying to succeed President Hamid Karzai.

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Presidential contender Gul Agha Sherzai on Monday said he was in talks with a number of rival candidates on forming an election alliance and the outcome would be known soon.
“We are in negotiations with Abdul Rahim Wardak, Hidayat Amin Arsala, Qutbuddin Hilal and others to make an alliance. I will not quit in anyone’s favour,” Sherzai told Pajhwok Afghan News during an exclusive interview.
Sherzai, who arrived in eastern Nangarhar province as part of his campaign, came hard on President Hamid Karzai for his unstable domestic and foreign policies.

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least two policemen and as many election workers were killed and several others wounded on Monday when a motorcycle bomb went off in western Herat province, officials said.
The explosion occurred in Rubat Sangi district around noon, provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Samiullah Qatra told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He said four policemen and as many civilians injured in the blast were instantly taken to hospital. The blast took place when a campaign rally for presidential runner Dr. Abdulla Abdullah was ongoing near his campaign office.

KABUL (Pajhwok): To exaggerate and spin their way to victory, some provincial council candidates have held out promises to voters in campaign slogans, which under the law, seem to exceed their powers.
Many common Afghans believe such slogans can earn provincial council candidates defeat instead of victory in the elections.
More than 2700 individuals, including 306 females, are contesting on 458 provincial council seats. It has been a week since campaigning for the elections due on April 5 began.

KHOST CITY/LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Presidential candidate Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Saturday promised a campaign rally he will construct an international airport and the Khost-Ghulam Khan Road in southeastern Khost province if won the April vote.
Campaigners for the former finance minister said nearly 40,000 people attended the rally held at a cricket stadium in Khost City.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Promising high government positions to women, front-line presidential candidate Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Sunday said he would bring to justice those involved in violence against the gender.
Addressing a gathering marking International Women’s Day in Kabul, Ahmadzai said the Afghan women were fully capable of performing different tasks.
A large number of women took part in the gathering. Ahmadzai said women’s views regarding peace were better than those held by men. “Because women hate war and they can speak on their behalf without men’s help.”

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Friday said he would strongly pursue the fight against Afghanistan’s enemies involved in slaughtering its elders and thousands of innocent citizens.
Abdullah was addressing tens of thousands of people attending the 19th death anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari, a prominent leader of the Hezb-i-Wahdat party.
Mazari was killed by the Taliban in 1995 after inviting him for a political dialogue and threw out his body from a helicopter during fight over Ghazni.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential contender Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday promised giving former jihadis a leading role in bringing peace and stability to the country, if he wins the April 5 polls.
Addressing a campaign rally in Desabz district of Kabul, the former foreign minister said Mujahidin could play a highly significant role in making the reconciliation drive a sucess, but the incumbent government had ignored their vital role.