KABUL - With the Presidential campaign season now in full-gear after its start on Sunday, campaign representatives from a number of camps on Tuesday began trumpeting high-profile endorsements received from former and current ranking government leaders.
Spokesman for Zalmai Rassoul's campaign, Jawed Faisal, told TOLOnews that the Lower House First Deputy Mirwais Yasini, Second Deputy of the Upper House Rafiullah Gul Afghan, Secretary of the Lower House Sayed Ikram, MP Fawzia Koofi and more than 15 other members of the National Assembly have declared their support for Rassoul. Faisal added that a number of Ministers have also announced their endorsements.
Some have worried about candidates guaranteeing positions in their potential government after the elections in exchange for different types of support during the campaign process. However, Faisal made a point of stating that no endorsement-for-title trading had gone on.
"Naturally, there would be some officials among high ranking officials of government who are supporting the team," Faisal said. "But nobody will work in favor of the team because of future government possibilities...If there is a Minister, Chief or Deputy Minister, their vote alone is sufficient for Zalmai Rassoul's candidacy."
Other frontrunner candidates also reported of their major endorsements on Tuesday.
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai's electoral headquarters said that the former Afghan Minister of Interior Ali Ahmad Jalali, former Minister of Commerce Anwarul Haq Ahadi, former Minister of interior Hanif Atmar and MP Zaher Qadir have all announced their support.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Abdullah's campaign reported that President Karzai's First Vice-President Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, Balkh Governor Atta Mohammad Noor, Chairman of the High Peace Council (HPC) Salahuddin Rabbani, Minister of Economics Abdula Hadi Arghandiwal, more than 150 members of the Lower House and a number of Senators have endorsed their team.
Abdullah Abdullah's campaign spokesman Sayed Aqa Fazl Sancharaki said that the officials have committed to supporting Abdullah, but would not have any active role in the campaign because they remained in official government positions.
A number of Lower House members have announced support for Presidential candidate Qayoum Karzai, including Paktia MPs Gul Padshah Majidi and Mahmood Sulaimankhil. (Tolonews)