KABUL - The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Monday said that several politicians have expressed their interest to contest in the upcoming Presidential elections, scheduled for April 5th, 2014. However, until now only Bismillah Sher, the leader of the Wefaq Millie Party (WMP) has filed his nomination for Presidency. The nomination filing process began on September 16 and will continue until October 6. As the deadline for filing nomination draws near, the IEC has warned all the candidates saying that under no circumstance the deadline would be extended.

"The deadline for filing nomination will not be extended. Today (Saturday) the mobile voters' registration programme has been kicked-off across the country," said Noor Mohammad Noor, the spokesman of the IEC.

The IEC added that so far, nearly 72 individuals, including two women have received the information packets from the Commission's head office. However, 15 days have passed since the commencement of the nomination filing process, and so far, only one candidate has submitted his papers.

Presidential candidates have to submit their names and meet the considerable requirements set for the upcoming elections. The new standards eligible candidates are expected to meet include depositing a fee of 1 million Afghanis ($18,000) and providing signatures and voter ID numbers of 100,000 supporters from an assortment of provinces around the country.

Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhil, the head of the IEC Secretariat, said that prominent politicians will confirm their nominations as candidates for Presidency in the last days of the nomination filing process.

"Some prominent politicians have told the IEC that they will file their nomination during the last days of the process," said Mr. Amarkhil.

Meanwhile, Fazl Rahmand Oria, the spokesman of the National Coalition Party (NCP), on Saturday announced that First Vice-President Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim has pledged his support to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the leader of the National Coalition of Afghanistan (NCA), in his run-up for the next spring's Presidential election.

The election is set for April 5, but with the candidate registration period coming to an end, preparations are in high gear. News about who is going to contest the elections will likely be breaking over the course of the next couple of days. (Tolo News)