As the deadline for presidential election approaches, campaign changes into tremendous power that forces any issue revolve around it. These days, major part of TV, Radio and print media are allocated to issues related to presidential election. Every day there are leaks of secret meetings among some candidates in order to build stronger team against their rival. These days are the days that presidential candidates indeed forget all about their ego and mentality. All run to get larger number of votes and win the election irrespective of where those votes come from. Recently, the spokesman of Hezb-e-Islami openly announced their support for Qutbuddin Helal, not a well-known candidate. Meanwhile he added that previously too delegates from candidates like Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah paid visit to them and demanded their support. Based on his statements, the Hezb-e-Islami rejected to support them because their demands were not fulfilled.

The interesting point is this that Dr. Abdullah Abdullah is viewed as a liberal candidate. He was member of leadership team of Ahmad Shah Masoud the leader of Shura-e-Nezar. Hezb-e-Islami was the first group that the Mujaheedin government particularly Shura-e-Nezar considered as main cause of failures of Mujaheedin. Gulbadin Hekmatiyar was the first person who portioned from the coalition of Mujaheedin and pulled the trigger against ruling government under the leadership of Burhanuddin Rabbani who during President Karzai became the chief of peace council and finally assassinated by suicide bomber who disguised himself as true representative of Taliban militants. In addition, Hekmatiyar never accepted the continuous call of Mr. President Karzai to join peace process and follow his objectives through peaceful means. Since 2001 when US-led military forces intervened in the country, his militants were engaged in anti-government and foreign forces combat. There is no statistics available, but it is obvious the group is responsible for assassination of hundreds of people.

Surprisingly, the group recently called on its supporters to vote for those provincial candidates who consider the interest of the party. It was a strong call for strengthening of democracy. Many analysts voiced out their optimism about such U-turn policy of the group — changing from a violent radical group to supporter of democratic norms. Though it is not clear whether the party’s leaders have reached to a conclusion that their path was wrong or mere temporary policy shift to benefit from the support of government or broaden their own influence. But no doubt the mere call is helpful for upcoming election as people in the provinces where the party has influence can participate in both presidential and provincial elections without fear of reprisal unlike previous elections.

Anyhow, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah who as one of the leaders of Shura-e-Nezar was a sworn enemy of Hezb-e-Islami, his delegates allegedly went and asked the party for support. If true, it displays how our respected candidates have found insatiable desire for power. Only a month has remained to the election, all eleven candidates seem resolved to run the election.

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah who contested against Mr. President Karzai in previous two elections, like other contestants, is leaving no stone unturned to win the election. Based on some undocumented reports, he allocated huge amount of money for advancing his campaign and win the highly influential leaders. The combination of his team does look so shaky. When he was the foreign minister, the so-called communal proportion was unacceptable. Though many support the idea that instead of communal proportion, the merits should be considered. But unfortunately, I can tell with certainty what he did was not based on merits too. Visible portion of diplomats and common employees of the ministry were recruited on the basis of biasness. Based on statements of a private University Prof. Jafari Mahdavi, who wrote a short notice in facebook, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah rejected him merely on account of his ethnicity. He wrote: “I was chief of campaign team of President Karzai in Iran. By our efforts, Mr. President got the largest portion of votes among refugees who are generally made of a community to whom Mr. President did not belong. So, after success of Mr. Karzai, I paid a visit to him in palace and he welcomed me with very broad brow and asked about my programs and objectives. I told him that I have completed my bachelor and want to follow my Master. So, after short thought, Mr. President told me what if he could send me somewhere as ambassador where I can follow my studies too. I accepted the offer with much enthusiasm and Mr. President made a phone call to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah who back then was Minister to Foreign Affairs Ministry.”

In brief, after weeks of waiting behind his door from early morning to till end of office time in afternoon, he rejected me of not having experience in foreign ministry. When I objected, he added that several ambassadors who were appointed by him had no experience and academic qualification, he vividly responded me, “We have the power and will do whatever we want. So, if any you got the power, do the same thing while indirectly pointing me to leave his office”.

But this time, he counts much on the votes of those people who previously told; go and do whatever you want if you snatched power. Same is the case with many other candidates. It reflects that our politicians have frenziedly running to lounge on the presidential seat.