Campaign

KABUL (Pajhwok): An ongoing jirga of elders is set to bring about an electoral understanding between presidential runners Dr. Zalmai Rassoul and Abdul Qayyum Karzai, officials said on Sunday.

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghanistan National Liberation Front, led by Sibghatullah Mujaddedi, on Monday announced support to presidential contender Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the party spokesman said.
Dr. Zabihullah Mujaddedi said the government should not interfere in elections and stay impartial during the process. The party would back Ahmadzai because he had effective plans to ensure peace in the country and resolve refugee and drug problems, he added.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential runner Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Monday said strengthening the private sector and encouraging domestic products would be among his primary goals.
Abdullah, who finished second behind President Karzai in the 2009 elections, said no proper attention had been paid to domestic products, thus weakening the manufacturing industry in Afghanistan.
He acknowledged the government of his principal rival Karzai had some achievements in various fields over the past 12 years, but called the achievements no enough as expected by the people.

KABUL (Pajhwok): The third faction of Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), including some senior government figures, on Saturday announced its support to presidential runner Dr. Zalmai Rassoul.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Former Nangarhar governor Gul Agha Sherzai on Friday ruled out a withdrawal from the presidential race in favour of anyone.
Addressing a press conference in Kabul, Sherzai said there was no truth in local and foreign media reports that he intended to pull out of the electoral fray.
“I’m not going to retire in anyone’s favour,” the ex-governor reiterated, dispelling the impression that he would pull out of the race in support of Dr. Zalmai Rassoul.

KABUL (Pajhwok): A number of elders, religious scholars and lawmakers from central Maidan Wardak province on Friday announced support to presidential candidate Zalmai Rassoul in the April 5 elections.
Hasibullah Kalimzai, heading the group, said they supported Rassoul because he had better understanding of internal and external affairs and could rid the country of the current crisis and challenges.

JALALABAD/ASADABAD (Pajhwok): Campaign rallies were organised on Wednesday in eastern Nangarhar and Kunar provinces in support of three presidential candidates.
There were two separate gatherings in Nangarhar, one supporting Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf and another Gul Agha Sherzai. The rally supporting Sayyaf was arranged by Meshrano Jirga Chairman Fazl Hadi Muslimyar.

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Big rallies were organized on Wednesday in support of presidential candidates Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Dr. Abdullah Abduallah in northern Kunduz and Takhar provinces.
Haji Malik Mohammad, chief of the Zakhil tribe, said they backed Ghani as presidential contender because he was well-educated and experienced enough to pull country out of problems.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Ahmad Zia Masood, presidential runner Dr. Zalmai Rassoul’s choice for first vice-president, on Thursday alleged some extremist circles outside Afghanistan were trying to disrupt peace in Afghanistan.
Addressing a campaign rally, arranged in his support by a pro-development and democracy alliance, he said some foreign forces were out to sabotage peace efforts in Afghanistan.

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday promised to rebuild Nangarhar’s canal system and construct mega hydropower dams on Kunar and Kama rivers.
Abdullah, who finished second behind President Hamid Karzai in the 2009 elections, told his first-ever campaign rally in in Jalalabad he would initiate work on small hydropower plants along the slopes of Spin Ghar mountain.