On October 22, the Independent Election Commission of
Afghanistan released a list of 10 candidates for the country's presidential
election scheduled for April 5, 2014. The commission disqualified 16 other
candidates for not meeting requirements, but they have 20 days to appeal against
their disqualification. The rules required the candidates to provide signatures
and voter ID numbers of 100,000 Afghans from all states in support of their
candidacy.
Under the Afghan constitution, President Hamid Karzai is
not entitled to run for election again, as a president is barred from running
for a third consecutive term. Among the top candidates are Dr. Zalmai Rassoul
and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. President Karzai's brother is also in the fray.
Excerpts from the biographies of the ten candidates who
appear on the preliminary list are given below, as reported by the Afghan
website Pajhwok:[1]
1) Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai
–Administrator, Architect Of Bonn Plan
"Born into an influential Afghan family in 1949, Dr. Ashraf
Ghani Ahmadzai spent his early life in the central province of Logar. He
completed his primary and secondary education at the Habibia High School in
Kabul. He travelled to Lebanon to attend the American University in Beirut and
returned to Afghanistan in 1974 to teach Afghan Studies and Anthropology at
Kabul University before winning a government scholarship to pursue a master's
degree in Anthropology at New York's Columbia University. He received his PhD
from Columbia University with a doctoral thesis (Production and Domination:
Afghanistan, 1747-1901) and was immediately invited to teach at the University
of California, Berkeley (1983) and then at Johns Hopkins University
(1983-1991).
"In 1991, Ahmadzai joined the World Bank (WB) as lead
anthropologist, advising on the human dimension to economic programs. Following
the ouster of the Taliban from power in late-2001, he was asked to serve as
special advisor to Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN secretary general's
special envoy to Afghanistan. In that capacity, he worked on the design,
negotiation, and implementation of the Bonn Agreement, which set out the roadmap
for transition to a new government. During the interim administration, he served
on a pro bono basis as chief advisor to then-interim President Karzai. He worked
on preparation of the Loya Jirgas (grand assemblies) that elected President
Karzai and approved the Constitution.
"As finance minister during the transitional administration,
he issued a new currency in record time; computerized operations of treasury,
introduced the budget as the central instrument of policy, centralized revenue
[collection system] and instituted regular reporting to the cabinet, the people
of Afghanistan and international stakeholders as a tool of transparency. He won
the Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan Medal, the highest civilian award in the country. He
was recognized as the Best Finance Minister of Asia in 2003 by Emerging Markets.
From March 31 to April 2004, he presented a seven-year program of public
investment, securing Afghanistan's future at an international conference in
Berlin attended by 65 finance and foreign ministers."
2) Dr. Zalmai Rassoul – Foreign
Minister, Former National Security Advisor
Dr. Zalmai Rassoul
"Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, born in 1953 in Kabul, is a son of Dr.
Abdul Qayyum Rassoul. He attended Lycée Istiqlal where he graduated as
valedictorian before travelling to France to study on a scholarship at the Paris
Medical School. He received his MD in 1973. Rassoul has been serving as minister
of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan since he received a
confidence vote from the
Wolesi
Jirga (Afghan National Assembly) in January 2010.
"Prior to his appointment as minister, he served as national
security advisor, a post he held from June 2002 to January 2009. He played a
constructive role in bringing activities of security institutions in line with
the country's foreign policy. Included in his numerous responsibilities were
conducting national threat assessments and the national security policy. Rassoul
accompanied President Hamid Karzai on official visits since the establishment of
the interim administration in 2001. An ethnic Pashtun, he remains unmarried and
is fluent in Dari, Pashtu, French, English, and Italian and has working
knowledge of Arabic. He has written multiple articles and papers on medical
issues in European and American magazines.
"Karzai nominated Rassoul as minister of civil aviation and
was unanimously approved by the Cabinet in March 2002. Under his leadership, the
aviation sector was revived after many years of UN sanctions against the Taliban
and Afghanistan. Rassoul played an important role in Afghanistan's readmission
to the International Civil Aviation Organization. He is one of the presidential
candidates, with Ahmad Zia Massoud – head of National Front – his first vice
president and Habiba Sarabi – former governor of Bamyan province – as his second
VP."
3) Engineer Qutbuddin Hilal –
Independent, Links With Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan
"A son of Maulvi Zaheeruddin, Qutbuddin Hilal was born in
1952 in the Zazai Maidan district of Khost province. He graduated from Kabul
Military Academy in 1970 and pursued his higher education in construction
engineering. He completed his bachelor's degree from the Engineering Academy in
1975. Hilal served as an engineer in the planning and designing branch of the
Defence Ministry until 1978. He was imprisoned at the notorious Pul-e-Charkhi
prison on charges of anti-state activities. After his release, he fled to
Pakistan.
"Hilal then joined the
Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan
(HIA) led by Engineer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. He headed HIA's political committee
and served as party chief for Paktia province. He later became head of the
military commission, tasked with uniting jihadi organizations besides heading
the leadership council after the collapse of the Dr. Najibullah government in
1980.
"He fluently speaks Pashtu, Dari, Arabic, English and Urdu.
Hilal twice served as first vice president in 1993 and 1996. A member of HIA, he
filed nomination papers for the presidential elections as an independent
candidate with Inayatullah Inayat as his first vice president and Mohammad Ali
Nabizada as his second VP. He is married and has six children."
4) Dr. Abdullah Abdullah – Former
Foreign Minister
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah
"Dr. Abdullah Abdullah is the son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Khan,
who was selected as a senator from Kandahar province in the last year of
kingdom. Born in 1959 in Kabul, Dr. Abdullah received education at the Ghazi
Mohammad Ayub Khan School and went on to graduate from the Naderia High School
in 1976. In 1977, he got admission to the Kabul University's Faculty of
Medicine, where he completed his training in ophthalmology in 1983. He
subsequently served as a specialist at the Noor Eye Hospital in Kabul.
"In 1984, he went to Pakistan to take care of refugee
families at the Sayed Jamal-ud-Din Hospital. The following year, he joined the
Afghan Freedom Fighters and served as caretaker in charge of health affairs for
the Panjsher Valley resistance front. It was there that Abdullah became an
advisor to Ahmad Shah Massoud. From 1992 to 1996, he served as a spokesperson
for Afghanistan's Defense Ministry and subsequently as Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs. Abdullah was in charge of foreign affairs for the
government-in-exile of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, led by President
Burhanuddin Rabbani from 1999 until the collapse of the Taliban regime.
"After the Taliban's ouster from power, Abdullah continued as
foreign minister of the transitional government. Approved by the Grand Assembly
(
Loya Jirga), and within
the first elected government, he continued as foreign minister until 2006. Dr.
Abdullah is married and has three daughters and a son. He is fluent in Dari,
Pashtu and English, and is proficient in Arabic and French as well."
5) Prof. Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf –
Former Jihadi Leader, Now Founder Of University And Radio, TV
Channels
"He was elected as a member of the Wolesi Jirga, the lower
house of parliament, from Kabul. He won 7,158 votes. Prof. Abdul Rab Rassoul
Sayyaf was born in 1944 in the Paghman district of Kabul province. Belonging to
the Pashtun tribe, he speaks Dari, Arabic, and English fluently. Sayyaf holds a
bachelor's degree in religious studies from Kabul University, and a Masters from
the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.
"He is the founder and director of Dawat Private University
and is also the head of Dawat Radio and Television. Sayyaf is an influential
Islamic scholar and
former
jihadi commander. Previously, he was a member of the Afghan-based
Ikhwan al-Muslimeen, an organization with links to the Egypt-based Muslim
Brotherhood. He served as a professor at the Sharia Faculty of Kabul University
until 1973 before migrating to Pakistan following a failed coup against the
regime of that time. Subsequently, he played a key role in the jihad against the
Soviets and the civil war in Kabul.
"Currently, Sayyaf is the head of Hezb-i-Tanzim
Dawat-i-Islami Afghanistan (the Afghanistan Islamic Invitation Party). Sayyaf
was elected to parliament in 2005. He is a runner for the 2014 presidential
election with Mohammad Ismail Khan, a former jihadi leader his first
vice-president and Irfanullah Ifran as his second VP."
6) Abdul Rahim Wardak – Former Defense
Minister
"Abdul Rahim Wardak was sacked by the Wolesi Jirga as defense
minister in late 2012. Later, the president appointed him as acting defense
minister, a slot that he resigned later on. A son of Abdul Ghani, he was born in
Wardak province in 1944. After graduating from the Habibia High School, he
joined the Military Academy in Kabul. He completed higher education in the
United States and Ali Nasr Academy in Cairo, Egypt.
"Wardak served as a lecturer at the Military Academy. In
2004, he was named as defense minister. He had political affiliation with the
National Islamic Front of Afghanistan led by Pir Syed Ahmad Gilani during the
jihad era [of the 1980s]. He served as head of the armed wing of Mahaz-i-Milli
during jihad against the Soviet forces. He was also commander-in-chief of
the Mahaz-i-Milli’s guerrilla front and military advisor to the political
party.
"After the collapse of the communist regime, Wardak was
appointed as chief of armed forces and head of the Military Training
Commission. He speaks Pashto, Dari, and English fluently. After receiving the
Ghazi Amanullah Khan Medal, Wardak was appointed as senior security advisor. He
is a presidential candidate, with Shah Abdul Ahad Afzali, a former MP, his first
vice president and Syed Hussain Anwari his second VP."
7) Abdul Qayyum Karzai – Elder Brother
Of President Hamid Karzai
"A son of Abdul Ahad Karzai, Abdul Qayyum Karzai is the elder
brother of President Hamid Karzai. He was born in 1957 in the Karz locality of
Kandahar. His father, the Popalzai tribe head, was elected as a parliamentarian
during King Zahir Shah's rule.
"Qayyum Karzai has six brothers and one sister. He did his
graduation in Political Science from a university in the United States. He
served as MP from Kandahar in the previous term of National Assembly. But he
resigned the position after criticism of his continued absence from the National
Assembly.
"Qayyum Karzai has his own business and spends most of his
time living in the United States. He is also one of the potential presidential
runners with Wahidullah Shahrani his first vice president and Ibrahim Qasimi his
second VP."
8) Mohammad Shafiq (Gul Agha Sherzai) –
Nangarhar Governor, Leading Businessman
"Mohammad Shafiq, popularly known as Gul Agha Sherzai, is a
son of Haji Abul Sherzai. He was born in the Barakzai area of Kandahar province
in 1954. His family name is Mohammad Shafiq but he was called Gul Agha Sherzai
by his father. Sherzai graduated from the Mashraqi High School in Kandahar and
later completed his education at the Teacher Training Institution.
"Sherzai started working at the Kandahar revenue department
in 1963 before taking up a job in Spin Boldak district. As a
mujahideen commander,
Sherzai helped topple the Dr. Najibullah government. He had to migrate to the
Quetta city of Pakistan several times, running his private business there.
"During the mujahideen government [in the early 1990s],
Sherzai was appointed as Kandahar governor. Subsequently, he served as public
works and transport minister. In 2006, he was appointed as Nangarhar governor.
Sherzai owns the Jamal Baba Company that has a presence in most parts of the
country. His sons are also managing a variety of businesses. Sherzai speaks
Pashtu, Dari, Urdu and English languages. He was a member of the Mahaz-e-Milli
Jihadi faction."
9) Sardar Mohammad Nader Naeem – Served
Under King Zahir Shah
"Sardar Mohammad Nader Naeem is a son of Ustad Aziz Naeem. He
was born in 1965 in Kabul. He is the maternal grandson of Sardar Dawood Khan,
the former president of Afghanistan. Sardar Naeem did his bachelor's degree in
computer sciences from one of the universities in London. He served as chief of
staff to King Zahir Shah.
"He has been living in Afghanistan over the past eight years.
In 2012, he launched a political campaign known as Woles Ghag (Voice of the
Nation) and visited several parts of the country to convey his message to the
people.
"He is a member of Sardar Dawood Khan's family. He filed his
nomination papers for the presidential elections as an independent candidate.
Taj Mohammad Akbar is his first vice president and Azizullah Poya as his second
VP. He speaks Pashto, Dari and English languages."
10) Hidayat Amin Arsala – Served As
Senior Advisor To President Karzai
"A son of Abdullah Amin Arsala, he was born in 1941 to an
influential Afghan family in Kabul. He received his BA degree in Economics and
Political Science from Kabul University. He completed his PhD in Economics from
a university in the United States. He was the first Afghan to join the World
Bank (WB) in 1969 and worked there for 18 years.
"In 1987, he joined the mujahideen in fighting against the
Soviet occupation. He served as finance minister in the interim government from
1989-1992. For a short period in 1993, he served as foreign minister. After the
collapse of the Taliban regime [in 2001], Arsala was chosen as commerce minister
at the Bonn Conference and endorsed by the Emergency Loya Jirga as vice chairman
of the interim government.
"He also headed the Independent Commission of Administrative
Reforms, the National Statistics Commission and the Economic Cooperation
Committee, as well as member of the Security Council. For years, he served as
senior adviser to President Hamid Karzai before resigning the job to contest the
next presidential elections. He was also a contender in the previous
presidential ballot, but had to step down in favor of Karzai. He has selected
General Khudaidad and Safia Siddiqui as his first and second deputies
respectively."
[1] Pajhwok.com (Afghanistan), October 26, 2013.
The original English of the report has been mildly edited for
clarity.
