If helped by expats, Ludin to run for president

KABUL): High Office of Oversight for Anti-Corruption (HOOAC) head Azizullah Ludin has indicated he may jump into the presidential race, if financially supported by Afghan expats.

Some parliamentarians, university teachers and other people have asked him to run for next year’s presidential elections, Ludin said told Pajhwok Afghan News during an exclusive interview.

“They tell me I have served Afghanistan for several years and that I should not surrender to opponents,” he said. If Afghans in foreign countries financially supported him, he would contest the elections, he added.

A private TV channel planned to launch a fund-raising campaign for him, Ludin said, revealing 100 Afghans in foreign countries have so far promised him financial help.

If not helped by the well-off individuals, he would be unable to nominate himself for the vote. The official said millions of dollars were needed for campaign.

Regarding his financial status, Ludin said: “In the absence of my salary, I swear I can’t pay rent of my house in Kabul and will have to shift to my hometown of Herat.”

Possible presidential wannabes are Qayyum Karzai, a brother of President Hamid Karzai, Anwarul Haq Ahadi, the minister of commerce and industries, Omar Daudzai, Afghan ambassador in Islamabad, Zalmay Khalilzad and ex-US ambassador in Kabul.

Ali Ahmad Jalali and Hanif Atmar, Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the head of security transition commission, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan National Coalition chief, Ahmad Zia Massoud, the National United Front leader, and some others are also in the race.

If elected as president, he would prioritise good relations with neighbours and other regional countries for resolution of Afghanistan’s problems, Ludin said.

“Afghanistan is a poor country which needs to have good relations with neighbours and other countries to get foreign assistance for implementing development projects,” he added.

“Peace could not be brought to Afghanistan through begging. Had it been possible through pleas, the current government would have restored it years ago,” he concluded.

myn/mud

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