PUL-I-KHUMRI/MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Hundreds of people on Tuesday gathered in northern Baghlan province, voicing support to presidential candidate Dr. Zalmai Rassoul.
A gathering of about 500 people in Baghlan-i-Markazi district vowed support to Rassoul, a former foreign minister in the President Karzai Cabinet, in the April elections.
Syed Mohammad, an ex-jihadi commander, told Pajhwok Afghan News the gathering coincided with the opening of a campaign office of Rassoul in the district.
Presidential candidates Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Qayyum Karzai and Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf have already opened campaign offices in Baghlan.
But none of them, except Rassoul, has such offices outside the provincial capital, Pul-i-Khumri. No presidential hopeful has so far arrived in Baghlan since the election campaign began Feb. 2.
Haji Babrak, a Kochi tribe representative, said there were about 85,000 Kuchi tribesmen, who wanted to vote for Rassoul.
In northern Faryab province, around 1,000 people held a gathering in support of Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, a front-line runner.
