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More Candidates Enter Afghanistan’s Presidential Race

At least three candidates entered Afghanistan’s presidential race on Saturday as the deadline for candidates’ registration process is near to an end.

Former NDS Chief Rahmatullah Nabil, head of Massoud Foundation Ahmad Wali Massoud and Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar were the three candidates who entered the race on Saturday.

Army Gen. Murad Ali Murad (Left), Rahmatullah Nabil (Center), Massouda Jalal (Right)

Rahmatullah Nabil joined the race with Army General Murad Ali Murad and former Minister of Women’s Affairs Massouda Jalal as his running mates. 

Nabil’s ticket, “Security and Justice”, is supported by a number of former officials including former National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta. 

Nabil served as Head of the National Directorate of Security from 2010 to 2012. On September 1, 2013, he was appointed as acting director due to the health problems suffered by Asadullah Khalid following an attempted assassination. Nabil was officially reappointed as the full-time director of the NDS on 28 January 2015. 

He also runs Mehwar-e Mardum-e Afghanistan also called Axis of people of Afghanistan, a Kabul-based political party.

Massouda Jalal, Nabil’s running mate for first vice president, is a Kabul University graduate. She ran for president in 2004 presidential elections in which former President Hamid Karzai was the winner. 

She served as Minister of Women’s Affairs during Karzai’s government. She has worked in the United Nations and Kabul University as well.

Addressing reporters, Nabil vowed to establish Constitutional amendment commission after he wins the elections through which he said amendments will be brought to the Constitution.

He also vowed to work for peace and fight against “the fifth pillar within the system”.

Farida Mohmand (Left), Ahmad Wali Massoud (Center), Abdul Latif Nazari (Right)

Meanwhile, Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of Massoud Foundation, joined the race with Farida Mohmand, former Minister of Higher Education as his running mate for first Vice President and Abdul Latif Nazari, a university lecturer, as his running mate for second VP.

Massoud, 54, has studied politics at University of Westminster in London. 

Massoud’s running mate, Farida Mohmand, 54, is a physician in profession and has worked in the National Unity Government.

Abdul Latif Nazari, Massoud’s running mate for second vice president, has a PhD in politics from Tehran University. He is a lecturer at Gharjistan Institute of Higher Education.

Massoud’s election ticket has entered the race with the slogan of “National Unity”. 

After registering his ticket, Massoud told reporters that he will focus on changing government’s system if he wins. He said the current system lacks accountability.

Besides Massoud, Hekmatyar and Nabil, so far, Abdul Latif Pedram, Hakim Torsan, Sayed Noorullah Jalili, Enayatullah Hafiz, Zalmai Rassoul, Noorul Haq Ulumi, Faramarz Tamanna and Mohammad Haneef Atmar have entered the race for the presidential elections. 

The presidential elections are scheduled for July 20.

More Candidates Enter Afghanistan’s Presidential Race

According to IEC, the presidential candidates’ registration process will end on January 20.

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At least three candidates entered Afghanistan’s presidential race on Saturday as the deadline for candidates’ registration process is near to an end.

Former NDS Chief Rahmatullah Nabil, head of Massoud Foundation Ahmad Wali Massoud and Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar were the three candidates who entered the race on Saturday.

Army Gen. Murad Ali Murad (Left), Rahmatullah Nabil (Center), Massouda Jalal (Right)

Rahmatullah Nabil joined the race with Army General Murad Ali Murad and former Minister of Women’s Affairs Massouda Jalal as his running mates. 

Nabil’s ticket, “Security and Justice”, is supported by a number of former officials including former National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta. 

Nabil served as Head of the National Directorate of Security from 2010 to 2012. On September 1, 2013, he was appointed as acting director due to the health problems suffered by Asadullah Khalid following an attempted assassination. Nabil was officially reappointed as the full-time director of the NDS on 28 January 2015. 

He also runs Mehwar-e Mardum-e Afghanistan also called Axis of people of Afghanistan, a Kabul-based political party.

Massouda Jalal, Nabil’s running mate for first vice president, is a Kabul University graduate. She ran for president in 2004 presidential elections in which former President Hamid Karzai was the winner. 

She served as Minister of Women’s Affairs during Karzai’s government. She has worked in the United Nations and Kabul University as well.

Addressing reporters, Nabil vowed to establish Constitutional amendment commission after he wins the elections through which he said amendments will be brought to the Constitution.

He also vowed to work for peace and fight against “the fifth pillar within the system”.

Farida Mohmand (Left), Ahmad Wali Massoud (Center), Abdul Latif Nazari (Right)

Meanwhile, Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of Massoud Foundation, joined the race with Farida Mohmand, former Minister of Higher Education as his running mate for first Vice President and Abdul Latif Nazari, a university lecturer, as his running mate for second VP.

Massoud, 54, has studied politics at University of Westminster in London. 

Massoud’s running mate, Farida Mohmand, 54, is a physician in profession and has worked in the National Unity Government.

Abdul Latif Nazari, Massoud’s running mate for second vice president, has a PhD in politics from Tehran University. He is a lecturer at Gharjistan Institute of Higher Education.

Massoud’s election ticket has entered the race with the slogan of “National Unity”. 

After registering his ticket, Massoud told reporters that he will focus on changing government’s system if he wins. He said the current system lacks accountability.

Besides Massoud, Hekmatyar and Nabil, so far, Abdul Latif Pedram, Hakim Torsan, Sayed Noorullah Jalili, Enayatullah Hafiz, Zalmai Rassoul, Noorul Haq Ulumi, Faramarz Tamanna and Mohammad Haneef Atmar have entered the race for the presidential elections. 

The presidential elections are scheduled for July 20.

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