KABUL (PAN): Haji Hassan Sultani, an independent presidential candidate, has pulled out of the race in favour President Hamid Karzai.
Sultani told a news conference in Kabul on Thursday that Hamid Karzai has great political vision, is familiar with social issues of the country and enjoys a clean reputation at the global level.
In the national interest including the restoration of peace, he argued, he was retiring to boost the incumbent president's chances of winning the election and serving the country for another five years.
"My and my campaign team's goal is neither money nor power; we just want to work sincerely for the prosperity of the country and help Karzai win the vote," the retiring candidate argued.
Kabir Sayeq, a spokesman for Sultani, said the decision was taken after they realised on the campaign trail that Karzai was the most suitable contender and the Afghan people wanted him to retain the presidency. Sultani spent more than 200,000 afghanis on campaign activities from his own pocket.
Misri Khan Momand and Abdul Raqib were vice-presidential picks of Sultani, 68, who has graduated from high school. He was a member of the 1976 Constitutional Loya Jirga.
Earlier, two other candidates Abdul Majid Samim and Baz Muhammad Kofi opted out of the battle for the presidency in support of Karzai. And so did Muhammad Saeed Hashmi, another aspirant.
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