KABUL - Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf resigned from the Lower House on Wednesday, in order to file his candidacy for the next spring's Presidential election. Additionally, Mr. Sayyaf said that Muhammad Ismail, the Minister of Water and Energy, will be his First Vice-President and the name of the Second Vice-President would be announced soon.

Mr. Sayyaf has announced his candidacy a day after Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the leader of the National Coalition of Afghanistan (NCA), officially filed his nomination for Presidency.

He is the second Parliamentarian to have resigned from the post, to contest in the 2014 Presidential election. Hajji Mohammad Muhaqeq, the leader of the Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardom Afghanistan (HWIMA), tendered his resignation from his Lower House membership on Sunday and will contest for the post of Second Vice-President in the upcoming election.

"I want to file my nomination for Presidency. I am officially resigning from my Lower House membership. My goal is to serve the people and protect my country. I will do my best for the country," said Mr. Sayyaf.

It is being reportedly said that Mr. Sayyaf will go to the Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Thursday and submit his nomination papers.

Mr. Sayyaf while announcing his resignation said that if he wins the election, he will ensure that women's rights are protected in the country.

"Islam grants one right for the father and three rights for the mother. I will put in my best and fight for the cause of women," Mr. Sayyaf added. (Tolo News)