KABUL (PAN): Several public meetings were held in support of presidential candidates in different parts of the country as election campaign entered its 31st day on Thursday.
In eastern Nangarhar province, more than 800 people were gathered to voice their support for the incumbent president Hamid Karzai, seeking reelection in the August 20 election, in the capital city of Jalalabad.
In a similar gathering of about 300 people in the same city voiced support for another candidate Dr Abdullah Abdullah.
"Karzai is a true Afghan and a real Muslim. He has done remarkable deeds as president," Azizuddin Graan, a Karzai's supporter told Pajhwok Afghan News.
A supporter of Dr Abdullah, Malik Aziz, said," People are fed up with current incompetent government and they want change."
Also on Saturday, in southeastern Khost province, a youth-led association, Youth Unity Association (YUA) also organized a gathering in support of Karzai.
In other provinces, public meetings supporting Hamid Karzai, Dr Abdullah and Habib Mangal were held.
In central Parwan province, a campaign rally attended by thousands of people organized by former interior minister Engineer Zaraar Ahmad Muqbel voiced support to Karzai.
Karzai vice-president pick Mohammad Qaseem Fahim addressed the rally. "Karzai is an appropriate person for the presidency and all the people should vote him," Fahim said in his address.
In Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi Hall in the western Herat province, roughly 1000 Karzai's supporters backed his candidacy.
While in Herat Gymnasium, a public meeting attended by thousands of people supported Dr Abdullah Abdullah, calling him a right man for the high profile post.
The gatherings in support of presidential wannabes came two days after people from lower class, including heirs of the martyrs, disabled and former mujahiddin held a demonstration in Heata, saying they would not support any of candidates.
In northern Kunduz, northwestern Ghor and western Nimroz provinces, hundreds of people voiced their support for Karzai. Meanwhile, members of civil society, teachers and university students of central Bamyan province held a convention in support of Habib Mangal, another presidential hopeful.
The presidential and provincial council elections are due on August 20.
