Provincial Council Elections

Date:2013-03-06

Question 1

Naqeebullah, 34, resident of Ghazni, says: “Fighting is there for over three decades. I don’t know when will it come to an end.” How will you help Afghans unite to ensure peace and bring prosperity to their country?

The war can be ended with the emergence of a truly serving administration that can put an end to corruption, improve its treatment of people, look into the requirements and demands of the people, end poverty and unemployment and ensure peace with opponents of the government.

I shall do all these jobs by strengthening and equipping the security forces with modern weapons. I shall enhance their capability to ensure peace in the country.

Question 2

Muhammad Latif, resident of Nawabad village of Shindand district of Herat province, lost eight family members in foreign forces' bombing. He says: “I was the only family member out of home the night the foreign troops bombed the area. What is your plan to stop such irresponsible air raids and how will you overcome the obstacles of translating your plan into action?”

First of all, I want to give legal status to the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan.
Then, I shall persuade them to carry out all their activities in consultation with and permission of the Afghan government, with the focus to not carry out operations without consultation with Afghan officials and avoid the killing of Afghan civilians in such operations.

All the goals can be achieved by an elected leader having support of the people of Afghanistan.

Question 3

Amanullah Babakarkhel (65), resident of Atash village of Khan Abad district in Kunduz, says: “I wish Afghans, whether in or out of government, to unite and live in peace. What is your plan for bringing armed opponents of the government into the political and national mainstream? Please also explain how you will deal with those accused of war crimes."

To achieve reconciliation and bring the opponents into the government fold, the foremost thing for the future president is that he should not be involved in bloodletting and there should not be lack of trust and enmity between him and the opponents.

I'm in such a position where I can do this because introduction of true Islamic system and implementation of Sharia is the cause joined by me and opponents of the government.

Thirdly, withdrawal of foreign troops is also on my agenda and the same demand is made by the opponents. However, I want expulsion of foreign troops from Afghanistan through the National Shura of religious scholars instead of fighting.

Question 4

Gul Rahman (39), resident of Chak district of the central Maidan Wardak province, says the quality of education in schools is dismal. “Many Afghans cannot afford to send their children to private schools and universities. If no remedial action is taken, children of the poor will be deprived of their right to education. How can you enhance teachers' educational qualifications and increase the quota for admissions to centres for higher education to ensure equal opportunities for all?”

I want to increase the education ratio among people by introducing modern technology in the educational institutions and bringing our textbooks in line with that of the developed countries. I shall increase salaries of teachers and do away with the private education system to increase the number of teachers in government schools.

Question 5

Faiz Muhammad, 48, resident of Kabul, says: “I'm a labourer but don't find job on a regular basis. I have five children. What is the reason of joblessness and what are your plans to provide employment for the people?”

I shall control joblessness by establishing industries and constructing water and power dams; promotion of mining and agriculture. In this way, hundreds of thousands of people will be able to get jobs.

Question 6

Nazako is a resident of Shiberghan, capital of Jawzjan. Her sister committed self-immolation. She says: “My sister took the extreme step because of the ill-treatment meted out to her by their step brother.” More than 500 such incidents took place in different parts of the country last year. What is your plan to prevent these incidents and alleviate women's plight?

I shall take serious steps to end violence against women by awarding punishments to the involved persons in line with the Islamic laws.

I shall provide jobs, business opportunities and ensure participation of women in politics and social and cultural activities. I support women rights and shall take steps to ensure equal rights for men and women in light of the Islamic laws.

Question 7

Najeebullah (27), a dweller of Kabul, says: “I’ve a case with an influential man. I was confident of my success. But when the case went to the government, it was decided in favour of my rival – thanks to the bribes and influence he used. What is your plan to eradicate administrative corruption from all departments?”

I shall set some standards for appointment of people in official positions to put an end to corruption. Those standards include honesty, trustworthiness, justice, truth and ability.

I shall increase salaries of the government employees and those involved in crimes would be punished.

Question 8

Habib Gul, resident of Asmar district of Kunar province, says: “We’re deprived of electricity although we’ve ample water in our river flowing into Pakistan. Afghanistan has an estimated 75 billion cubics of water and 80 per cent of it is used by our neighbours. What are your plans for tapping these resources and providing clean drinking water to the people?”

I shall construct damns to remove the problems of water scarcity and electricity. In this way, I shall be able to bring barren land under cultivation.

I shall work for using the river water inside the country. In this way, we shall be able to export electricity instead of importing the same.

For example, if dams are constructed at two or three places on Murghab and Farah rivers, we shall be able to provide electricity to Iran and Pakistan besides fulfilling our domestic requirements.

Question 9

Sixty-year-old Muhammad Rahman, a shopkeeper in Khost province, says: “Neighbouring countries have been interfering in internal affairs of Afghanistan for the past 30 years. We are facing problems because of the foreign presence and the neighbours. We are concerned about that. What are your plans to address that concern of the people?”

We want peaceful ties with all countries of the world. I am against interference in internal affairs of others and am trying to remove all suspicions with the neighbours by developing trust and confidence. I shall try to inform them that Afghan would allow no one to use its land against any of its neighbours.

Question 10

In your view, what are the top qualities an Afghan president should have? And what qualities do you see in yourself as a candidate for the top slot?

The qualities of a good president are: Knowledge, good administration, ability, nobility, justice, honesty, trustworthiness, bravery, kindness, patriotism and love of God. With the grace of God, I have all those qualities.

Date:2013-03-06

Question 1

The fighting in Afghanistan will be concluded by strengthening the country's defence, forming welfare organisations, empowering courts, solving the problems of people and promoting unity among Afghans in light of the religion of Islam.

Question 2

Killing of the innocent people is tragic.... they should not pay the price for the anti-terror war. I will stop the killing of innocent people by seeking legal aspects of the engagement of the foreign troops and practically reviewing the anti-terror war. I will not allow even injury to a single countryman in this way.

Question 3

On one hand, invigorating the negotiation process, opening of a national process through a concrete national plan and inclusion of all sides through the national unity programme, while on the other hand, empowerment of judiciary, and investigation of cases of violation of the rights of the people or forcefully occupying their wealth.

Question 4

I have comprehensive plans for promotion of education and culture and increasing the education ratio in the country. For this purpose, you can see my election manifesto.

Question 5

Ending hunger and poverty from the society needs a true economic programme. I have such a plan. This plan includes legal reforms, provision of favourable environment for local and foreign investors, ensuring security and focus on services, mines, industries and works in the market. You can study my manifesto for my economic programme for the country.

Question 6

Violence, particularly violence against women needs to be changed and this needs basic changes in the lives of Afghans. Violence is born of illiteracy, poverty, educational backwardness and the problems of life. I have a compact programme for participation of women in the mainstream. This change requires changes in the country's economic and political system, society and culture. You may see my manifesto for this.

Question 7

The roots of corruption basically lie in misguided politics and inefficient administration. I keep the following points in mind in fighting corruption. -- Separation of three pillars of the government formation of an answerable government. -- Improvement in economic condition of government employees -- in case of change in the government system, a constant monitoring of the prime minister -- separation of political and professional powers -- Improvement in monthly salaries and other facilities of government employees -- basic reforms in court system, investigation of cases and filing of complaints through the Attorney General's office -- and some other programmes included in my manifesto

Question 8

In my manifesto, I suggested water as a key resource and suggested its judicial use, particularly in agriculture sector.

Question 9

The foreign policy of Afghanistan is standing on bilateral cooperation, mutual benefits, restoration of confidence with the neighbours and solution of border or other disputes with neighbours through talks.

Question 10

In your view, what are the top qualities an Afghan president should have? And what qualities do you see in yourself as a candidate for the top slot?

Must have thinking above the nation and religion. Must know Afghanistan and its people and love them. Must have political and cultural experience. Must have administrative experience and have the experience to serve the people with knowledge about key national issues and requirements. And finally must have the required ability to lead the country.

KABUL (PAN): Presidential candidate Gul Ahmad Yama has said providing jobs to 10 million people and bringing international forces under the government's control are among his priorities. Running for the presidency as an independent candidate, he told Pajhwok Afghan News in an interview he did not have any problem with the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan, but wanted the troops to be directly controlled by the Afghan government.

KABUL (PAN): Presidential candidate Hidayat Amin Arsala has opposed the introduction of federal system in the country and said it would not create even a single complete institution. In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Arsala said he would continue the existing system if elected as president of Afghanistan in the upcoming presidential elections. Referring to the Constitution of the country, he said law-making was not as a simple job to be changed after every two or three years. Supporters of the federal system could not work for the benefit of Afghanistan, he added.

KABUL (PAN): Presidential candidate Dr. Ghulam Farooq Nijrabi says he has not yet started electioneering because he doubts transparency in the August 20 polls. "I can't win the election and the one already chosen will be the president of Afghanistan, just as has happened in the past," the Istiqlal Party chief alleged. In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Nijrabi insisted the election process was shorn of all credibility. But he would not reveal who had already been picked and by whom.

KABUL (PAN): Independent presidential candidate Ghulam Muhammad Rigi has said he will expose and punish all those people who embezzled international aids, if he is elected as president in the upcoming elections. In an interview with Pajhwok Afghan News Rigi said he will held accountable those responsible for misusing the foreign aids. Ghulam Muhammad Rigi was born in 1947 in Anar Dara district of western Farah province. He has baccalaureate degree.