On campaign trail, Sherzai outlines priorities

KABUL out of political, economic and social unrest.

If elected in the April polls, he would definitely guarantee peace, the ex-governor told a rally that thousands of people attended.

Sherzai said Afghanistan was in a sensitive phase of its history, where the Afghans had to jointly struggle to make the elections a success.

With his second vice-presidential nominee Mohammad Hashim Zari absent from the rally, Sherzai said: “We should join hands to rescue Afghanistan from political and economic turmoil. If elected, I would solve these issues with the assistance of a best team.”

He identified bringing peace, improving security, initiating reconstruction, forging good relations with neighbouring countries and the international community among his top priorities.

He promised establishing factories, giving land plots and vehicles to teachers, journalists, religious scholars and providing traders with facilities to flourish their businesses if elected as president.

“I have practically proved myself as a hero of peace and reconstruction,” said Sherzai, also known as Mohammad Shafiq.

The former Kandahar governor vowed to strongly defend women’s and youth’s rights and reopen schools which had been closed due to insecurity if voted to power.

He said he had evolved a comprehensive strategy on how to implement his plans. “Peace did not come to the country due to some problems, but I am the one who had never fought tribal and factional wars. I have offered martyrs and have done jihad. I would definitely bring peace,” vowed the former special advisor to president Karzai.

Sherzai said he would reduce the number of ministers to 16 from the current 25 and governors would have complete authority in performing their tasks in his administration.

He said special courts would be established to try high officials involved in administrative corruption and a special committee to investigate cases of prisoners held on dubious charges.

Sherzai praised President Karzai for what he said having achieved considerable progress on economic and political fronts. However, he called on the president to sign the bilateral security agreement with the US on the basis of the desire of Afghanistan’s people.

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