3 major groups pledge support to Ghani

KABUL): Three major political parties have decided to extend support to presidential candidate Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, sources said on Saturday, a day before the election campaign kicks off.

A source in the Afghan Millat Party, led by former minister Dr. Anwarul Haq Ahadi, told Pajhwok Afghan News its high council held a meeting on Saturday and decided to support Ahmadzai in the April elections.

The meeting was attended by Ahadi, senior party leader Stana Gul Sherzad and members of the high council and provincial secretaries.

Suleman Khpalwak, an Ahmadzai campaign official, confirmed to Pajhwok that Ahadi and the Mahaz-i-Milli Islamic Party had vowed to support the former finance minister.

He said the two parties would formally announce their decision at a huge gathering to be held tomorrow, the opening day of the two-month election campaign.

Khpalwak claimed several other political parties would soon announce their support to Ahmadzai, a former World Bank expert.

A Mahaz-i-Milli Islami party member said Ahmadzai met the party leader, Pir Syed Ahmadi Gilani, on Saturday. He added Gilani had assured his party’s support to Ahmadzai.

Similarly, the Milli Nijat Party, led by Sibghatullah Mujaddedi, also decided to persuade its supporters to vote for Ahmadzai, a source in the party said.

The development comes days after former interior minister Hanif Atmar, who leads the Right and Justice Party, announced his backing for Ahmadzai.

ma/mud

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