KABUL, (PNA/Xinhua) — Afghan political figure Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Sunday registered with the country’s Independent Election Commission (IEC), launching his bid for the upcoming presidential elections.
The country’s third presidential and provincial councils elections since the fall of Taliban regime in late 2001 is slated for April 5 next year.
Ahmadzai recently resigned from his post as the Chairman of Afghan Security Transition Commission, a government-backed body in charge of arranging security transition from NATO and U.S. forces stationed in the country to national security forces.
In the 2009 presidential elections, he ranked fourth in the polls, behind incumbent president Hamid Karzai, his main opponent Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and Ramazan Bashardost.
He is the latest aspirants who registered their names since Sept. 16 when the registration of candidates started.
The nomination process is expected to end later Sunday at around 4:00 p.m. local time. Afghan Minister of Commerce Anwar-ul- Haq Hadi is also resigned to take part in the process.
Earlier on Sunday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued a presidential decree ordering government officials and institutions not to interfere in election process, or use government resources and facilities in favor or against any candidates.
General Abdul Rashid Dostom and former justice minister Sarwar Danish will be the first and second vice-president respectively if Ahmadzai wins in the race.