In a significant move, Hizb-e-Islami, the second largest armed faction in Afghanistan after the Taliban, has announced to take part in presidential elections and to support Qutbuddin Hilal in the race, a senior party leader said Saturday.
Hizb-e-Islam led by former Prime Minister, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, is fighting US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan and had previously stayed away from taking part elections in the presence of foreign troops. It is the first time Hizb-e-Islami has decided to take part in elections in the presence of NATO forces.
“The Central Executive Committee of the Hizb-e-Islami has decided to take part in presidential elections and back Qutbuddin Hilal,” head of the Hizb Political Commission, Dr Ghairat Baheer said.
“The leadership has also endorsed the decision and the party has instructed party supporters to actively take part in political campaign,” Baheer said.
Qutbuddin Hilal, who had previously served as head of the party’s political commission, had joined the race as independent candidate.
Hekmatyar in an earlier letter had instructed his party leadership to take part in provincial councils’ elections and and support those candidates who are either related to the party or have a positive view about the party.
Presidential and provincial elections will be held on April 5 that will also mark the first democratic transition in Afghanistan’s long history. A total of eleven presidential candidates are taking part in the poll to replace President Hamid Karzai, who cannot run for third time under the Afghan Constitution.
The move is considered a major change from the party’s previous stance and analysts believe it is designed to seek a future political role for Hizb-e-Islami. The decision is likely to boost the democratic process in the insurgency-torn country as it will define the future political role of the party.
Hizb-e-Islami’s political role is also being seen as a key to the reconciliation process ahead of the Nato troops withdrawal this year. It will also further isolate the Taliban who have already dismissed the elections as a “waste of time.”
Dozens of the party’s members are part of Karzai’s government at present and members of parliament but the leadership has never owned them publicly. However, Hizb members in Kabul have never publicly parted ways with the party and display Hekmatyar’s photographs in political gatherings.
The Hizb reportedly changed its stand about elections after party leaders and supporters asked the leadership to do so as they did not want the political space to be filled by others.
Hekmatyar in a last month interview had stated that his party would play an active role in the upcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan and would soon announce support for a candidate who would be the best among all 11 candidates. He said his party would also support candidates in provincial council elections.
“Hizb-e-Islami has told its supporters in Afghanistan to participate in the elections,” he had stated in replies to written questions delivered through one of his representatives.
“We have told our supporters to oppose those candidates who insist on a long stay of foreign troops and their military bases in Afghanistan.”
Although Hekmatyar doesn’t expect a fair presidential election in the presence of foreign forces, he had stated his party wanted every Afghan to reject all corrupt politicians and foreign stooges. “Hizb-e-Islami will not leave the political field open,” he added.
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