KABUL (SW) – Abdullah Abdullah on Sunday filed nomination papers to run for the landmark presidential elections in the country.
Alongwith his proposed deputies, CEO Abdullah Abdullah visited Independent Election Commission in the morning. Enayatullah Babur Farahmand and Assadullah Saadati are his proposed first and second vice presidents respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Abdullah said he would work closely together with his team. He said Afghanistan is passing through critical state, but this would not deter him from striving for national interests. Abdullah said the country cannot be built with loud slogans, but with true actions.
The CEO said he would not resign from the post as it was established based on a political agreement. He called on electoral observers and the candidates to chalk out a strategy to ensure state resources are not used for campaign.
However, based on the Constitution, only the president can remain on his seat while rest of the candidates have to quit their official posts to compete.
Abdullah expressed hope the election evolves in to positive competition, and not rivalry. In a clear reference to the nomination of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, he said, “a person who was at war with the people of Afghanistan until five years ago”, is now seeking power through democratic process.
The CEO said his electoral team wishes to reach peace, but a peace without stability and justice cannot be sustainable.
First vice president, Abdul Rasheed Dostum, leader of the Junbish-e-Islami party, has also announced his support for Abdullah. Dostum said he made promises for victory with the people during electoral campaign in 2014, and would again secure victory now. He regretted for not being able to establish the ministry of youth as he had promised. “We made many promises in the previous campaign, but there were no actions. This team is the team of actions”.
Leader of the Wahdat-e-Islami party, Kareem Khalili, said this team can salvage Afghanistan from instability and division. He advised all candidates to stay united.
Besides proposing two deputies to the president, Abdullah’s team has also pledged to retain the post of CEO besides establishing the post of prime minister.
The Jamiat-e-Islami party has backed Abdullah, but many top leaders of this party have already lend their support to another candidate, Mohammad Haneef Atmar, the former National Security Adviser.
ENDS
