New political alliance vows gender equality

KABUL): A newly-formed political alliance “Movement of Change” on Thursday announced it would jump into the electoral fray with new faces.

Movement of Change leader Fauzia Kofi, also a Wolesi Jirga member, told the launching ceremony that a number of parliamentarians, experts, university teachers and students were part of the alliance.

She said the alliance had come into being after lengthy negotiations and consultations among political and civil society groups, influential figures, tribal elders and youth.

The lawmaker said the movement had three main objectives — to ensure gender equality in line with religious values, pave the ground for girls and boys to study abroad and make the country economically strong.

“If we are unable to act on our pledges, people reserve the right to directly ask us about our failure,” Kofi said, calling the upcoming presidential election a historic test for the Afghans.

She said if the nation succeeded in rising to the challenge, no foreign hand would be able to create problems inside Afghanistan.

She called on her countrymen to fully participate in the April 2014 polls to shape the nation’s destiny, promising the Movement of Change would not allow the incumbent regime to extend its tenure under any circumstances.

She said the alliance would actively take part in the elections by introducing new faces, vowing not to allow any force to interfere in the election process because the vote held key to the country’s fate.

Afghanistan National Front leader Ahmad Zia Massoud and presidential advisor Hidayat Amin Arsala also attended the gathering, but both are not members of the new alliance.

Speaking on the occasion, Massoud said progress had been achieved in diverse fields in Afghanistan over the past 12 years, but it had not been enough.

He said every sphere of life in Afghanistan needed positive reforms and change and hoped the Movement of Change would play its role in this regard.

Arsala said every step towards a change should be taken with utmost care and wisdom in order to preserve the gains achieved so far.

ma

Visits: 1