Campaign

ALALABAD/KABUL (Pajhwok): Hundreds of people attended campaign rallies organised in support of presidential candidates Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Gul Agha Sherzai in eastern Laghman and the central capital Kabul on Thursday.
Participants of the rally in Laghman voiced support to Ahmadzai, a former finance minister. A campaigner for Ahmadzai, Haji Noor Mohammad, told the gathering the people of Laghman considered it an honour to support Ahmadzai, the world’s second top thinker.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Following negotiations lasting at least two weeks, presidential runner Abdul Qayum Karzai on Thursday formally announced his withdrawal from the race to support Zalmai Rassoul.
Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, the President Karzai’s older brother said he and Rassoul, a former foreign minister, would jointly work as part of their electoral alliance to win the landmark presidential elections slated for April 5.
He said the decision to join forces was to protect national interests and achieve economic development for the country.

KABUL (Pajhwok): As provincial council candidates plunged into a month-long campaigning, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said on Tuesday stringent security measures had been put in place for their security.
The ministry asked the contenders to stay in close contact with police during the campaign to avoid any untoward incident.
Provincial council candidates on Tuesday officially kicked off campaigning that would end 48 hours before the voting day (April 5).

KABUL (Pajhwok): A jirga has failed to convince two presidential candidates --- Abdul Qayyum Karzai and Zalmai Rassoul --- into forming alliance by renouncing one’s candidacy in favour of the other.
Jirga members said on Friday a majority of them tried to convince Rassoul into quitting the race, but he refused.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential contender Dr. Abdullah Abudllah on Thursday accused the government of interference into the elections by facilitating meetings among presidential hopefuls.
Abdullah, who finished second behind President Karzai in the 2009 elections, declared zero tolerance to any electoral fraud and called on the masses to take active part in the Aril 5 ballot and foil attempts at manipulating the outcome.

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Thousands of people, mostly youth, held a gathering in southeastern Khost province, vowing support to front-line presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
Arranged by a youth organization in direct cooperation with lawmakers from the province, the gathering was attended by around 2,500 people in Khost City, the provincial capital.
One of the organizers, Ilyas Wihdat, said the youth were a section of the society more enthusiastic to take part in the April elections than others.

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Presidential contender Mohammad Shafiq Gul Agha Sherzai has promised he will strive hard to ensure peace, expedite development projects in the country and specifically build the Kajaki power dam if he wins the April 5 ballot.
Around 3,000 participants with 300 of them female attended the gathering addressed by Sherzai in Lashkargah, the provincial capital of southern Helmand on Friday.

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Leading presidential runner Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Wednesday said he would take serious steps to bring about peace and stability to Afghanistan if elected as president in the April elections.
Addressing a rally of thousands of people in Lashkargah, Ghani said he was ready to render any sacrifice for peace and security.
“Trust me, my leadership will represent the people and there will be no favoritism. All responsibilities will be bestowed on professional individuals.”

KANDAHAR/KHOST (Pajhwok): A gathering was held in support of presidential candidate Mohammad Shafique Gul Agha Sherzai in southern Kandahar province, where a campaign office for another runner Dr. Abdullah Abdullah was inaugurated on Wednesday.
The gathering in Sherzai’s support was held at the Ahmad Shahi playground in Kandahar City, the provincial capital. Besides Sherzai and his two running mates, thousands of people, including women and tribal elders, were in attendance.