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تصویر بندانگشتی

Qanooni Defends Stance On Semi-Presidential System

Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, former vice president and a senior member of Jamiat-e-Islami party, reacted to his leaked phone conversation on Jamiat's stance about presidential elections but insisted that he supports his remarks on a change in government’s system. 

Qanooni did not clarify which presidential ticket he will support – though he mentioned in the conversation, which was leaked to media on Monday, that he will support former National Security Advisor Mohammad Haneef Atmar's team. He said he will support a team which will accept their scheme on change in government's system - which according to him is a semi-presidential system.

In a video posted on social media on Tuesday, Qanooni said the conversation was recorded when he was talking to someone outside the country about the presidential elections.

He added that leaking the conversation to media was against “media and ethics principles”. 

Qanooni said he fully supports what he had said in the conversation about the change in government's system. 

“I want to say that what I said in the conversation about changing the system is my view, my outlook and my plan. I support those words about bringing a change in the system,” said Qanooni. 

According to their scheme, he said there will be three vice presidents, a prime minister post with specific authorities and a consultative council consisting political and Jihadi figures. 

“I do not see the current centralized system in favor of Afghanistan. We do not want a radical change, but we want a semi-centralized system,” said Qanooni. 

According to Qanooni, change in government system was discussed in Jamiat-e-Islami meetings. 

He said Jamiat, after many consultations, has agreed on two options -  to support an election team which promises to change the system and to have a candidate from the “Resistance and Jihad's” address. 

He referred to the Northern Alliance when he talked about “Resistance” – which was a major force against the Taliban before the group was toppled in 2001.

He added that the candidate for Jamiat who will run for president will be Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of Massoud Foundation.

In reaction to Qanooni’s remarks in the leaked conversation, Jamiat-e-Islami party in a statement said Qanooni’s statement about joining Haneef Atmar’s team is his own remarks and that it does not represent Jamiat’s stance. 

The statement says Jamiat’s team is working on introducing a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. 

The statement further says Jamiat has not made any decision on supporting any candidate in the elections.

According to the election commission, the upcoming presidential elections are scheduled for July 20.

Qanooni Defends Stance On Semi-Presidential System

Jamiat-e-Islami says in a statement that Qanooni’s remarks are not representing Jamiat’s stance on presidential elections. 

تصویر بندانگشتی

Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, former vice president and a senior member of Jamiat-e-Islami party, reacted to his leaked phone conversation on Jamiat's stance about presidential elections but insisted that he supports his remarks on a change in government’s system. 

Qanooni did not clarify which presidential ticket he will support – though he mentioned in the conversation, which was leaked to media on Monday, that he will support former National Security Advisor Mohammad Haneef Atmar's team. He said he will support a team which will accept their scheme on change in government's system - which according to him is a semi-presidential system.

In a video posted on social media on Tuesday, Qanooni said the conversation was recorded when he was talking to someone outside the country about the presidential elections.

He added that leaking the conversation to media was against “media and ethics principles”. 

Qanooni said he fully supports what he had said in the conversation about the change in government's system. 

“I want to say that what I said in the conversation about changing the system is my view, my outlook and my plan. I support those words about bringing a change in the system,” said Qanooni. 

According to their scheme, he said there will be three vice presidents, a prime minister post with specific authorities and a consultative council consisting political and Jihadi figures. 

“I do not see the current centralized system in favor of Afghanistan. We do not want a radical change, but we want a semi-centralized system,” said Qanooni. 

According to Qanooni, change in government system was discussed in Jamiat-e-Islami meetings. 

He said Jamiat, after many consultations, has agreed on two options -  to support an election team which promises to change the system and to have a candidate from the “Resistance and Jihad's” address. 

He referred to the Northern Alliance when he talked about “Resistance” – which was a major force against the Taliban before the group was toppled in 2001.

He added that the candidate for Jamiat who will run for president will be Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of Massoud Foundation.

In reaction to Qanooni’s remarks in the leaked conversation, Jamiat-e-Islami party in a statement said Qanooni’s statement about joining Haneef Atmar’s team is his own remarks and that it does not represent Jamiat’s stance. 

The statement says Jamiat’s team is working on introducing a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. 

The statement further says Jamiat has not made any decision on supporting any candidate in the elections.

According to the election commission, the upcoming presidential elections are scheduled for July 20.

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