A presidential candidate for Afghanistan's upcoming general elections Hajji Mohammad Mohaqiq has been removed from Planning Ministry, a presidential decree said. The decree, read out by presidential spokesman Javid Luden here Monday, said "following Mohammad Mohaqiq's resignation from Planning Ministry, Ramazan Bashardost has been appointed as Planning Minister." The decree did not specify the reasons behind Mohaqiq's resignation and the spokesman was also avoiding responding questions in this regard. He said "related queries will be answered tomorrow."
| Wants to spend more time with his family? |
The former Planning Minister who earlier announced his candidacy to compete the US-backed president Hamid Karzai in the race accused the government last week of pressuring to withdraw his candidature. So far, Karzai seems to be the potential candidate for the first-ever Afghan presidential elections scheduled for June 2004.
| Seems like there should be a certain amount of competition for the office. A single candidate doesn't seem democratic, does it? Mohaqik is the leader of a Shiite party friendly to Iran, as distinct from the Hazaras, who're Shiites who could care less about Iran. I love the Middle East and Central Asia. Everything's so logical. |
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