President Hamid Karzai is constitutionally forbidden to run for a third term in the elections.( File photo)
Kabul:
The Afghan Independent Election Commission has disqualified 16 of the 26 candidates who had registered for the 2014 Presidential polls. Many of the candidates had allegedly registered hoping to gain top posts as ministers and governors in the next regime or monetary favours. All the major names, however, still figure in the preliminary list of 10 candidates still in the running.
The only woman Presidential candidate Khadija Ghaznawi, who had registered with two Generals as her Vice Presidential candidates, has also been disqualified. Each candidate has two Vice Presidential candidates registered along with them.
In 2009, there were 40 candidates on the ballot sheet. After that, stricter conditions were put in force. Candidates have to be at least 40 years old, have 100,000 voter signatures, no criminal record and have to deposit one million Afghanis (about 20,000 dollars). President Hamid Karzai is constitutionally forbidden to run for a third term in the elections.
Though all the big names-have been approved as expected-many are ex-warlords and even if they don't have official criminal records, they are implicated of human rights violations and even war crimes. One of those cleared in the preliminary list is Ustad Abdurab Rasul Sayaf, a known Wahabi Islamist and an ex-warlord who invited Osama bin Laden to Afghanistan.
Other names approved include Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the runner-up to Hamid Karzai in 2009; Zalmai Rassoul, the former Foreign Minister and National Security Adviser(a possible front-runner for President Karzai's endorsement); Dr Ashraf Ghani, the former Finance Minister and ex-head of the transition committee; Qayum Karzai, the President's brother; and five others.
Those disqualified still have the right to appeal and complaints can also be registered to drop those approved.
Afghanistan's Presidential elections are scheduled for April 5 next year. Afghanistan is facing three transitions - political, economic and military in 2014 - as foreign coalition combat troops prepare to withdraw by the end of the year
The only woman Presidential candidate Khadija Ghaznawi, who had registered with two Generals as her Vice Presidential candidates, has also been disqualified. Each candidate has two Vice Presidential candidates registered along with them.
In 2009, there were 40 candidates on the ballot sheet. After that, stricter conditions were put in force. Candidates have to be at least 40 years old, have 100,000 voter signatures, no criminal record and have to deposit one million Afghanis (about 20,000 dollars). President Hamid Karzai is constitutionally forbidden to run for a third term in the elections.
Though all the big names-have been approved as expected-many are ex-warlords and even if they don't have official criminal records, they are implicated of human rights violations and even war crimes. One of those cleared in the preliminary list is Ustad Abdurab Rasul Sayaf, a known Wahabi Islamist and an ex-warlord who invited Osama bin Laden to Afghanistan.
Other names approved include Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the runner-up to Hamid Karzai in 2009; Zalmai Rassoul, the former Foreign Minister and National Security Adviser(a possible front-runner for President Karzai's endorsement); Dr Ashraf Ghani, the former Finance Minister and ex-head of the transition committee; Qayum Karzai, the President's brother; and five others.
Those disqualified still have the right to appeal and complaints can also be registered to drop those approved.
Afghanistan's Presidential elections are scheduled for April 5 next year. Afghanistan is facing three transitions - political, economic and military in 2014 - as foreign coalition combat troops prepare to withdraw by the end of the year
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