Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani, head of the Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC), speaks during a press conference in Kabul on April 20, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
The Afghan electoral body responsible for the April 5 landmark presidential elections announced on Sunday partial results based on half of the votes.
After the second batch of votes were counted, Dr Abdullah Abdullah took the lead with 44.47 percent, while his close rival Dr Ashraf Ghani had 33.18 percent of the counted votes in his favour.
According to the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC), another front-runner, Dr Zalmai Rassoul, bagged 10.28 percent of nearly half of total votes.
The IEC Chairman Ahmed Yusuf Nuristani, while announcing the results at a news conference in Kabul, said the results are not final and change is possible in results as counting continues of the remaining 50 percent of votes.
The partial results are from 34 provinces and the complete results are scheduled to be declared on April 24.
The results posted on the IEC website showed that Jehadi leader Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf had secured nearly 7 percent of the vote, while Hizb-e-Islami leader Qutbuddin Hilal got 2.74 percent, former Kandahar governor Gul Agha Sherzai got 1.61 percent and former Finance Minister Hedayat Amin Arsala got only 0.24 percent of the vote.
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Dr. Ashraf Ghani is the right choice for the leadership of Afghanistan. He is the second thinker in the world. We deserve a highly educated and respected man who has no history killing anybody. He has never been part of any group killing and destrying Afghan infrastrature. He has wellknown internationally and acceptible for the people of Afghanistan. He is the one and only persons willing to have friendly relationship with the neighboring countries.
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah will not be bad for Pakistan. If Pakistan treats him with the respect that he deserves (he is half-Pushtun and half-Tajik by the way), then Pakistan will make a friend in Dr. Abdullah and not a perceived enemy. He is a decent and well-educated man, unlike Mr. Hamid Karzai who has been nothing but bad news for Pakistan, a thankless man who Pakistan had hosted during his bad times but in his good times he forgot all that Pakistan did for him and started biting the hand that once fed him. At least we will not be dealing with a hypocrite;)
Ghani is best for Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is educated, pashtun and wants special ties with both governments (like france and germany).
@Major Iqbal: Why it would be a tough time for Pakistan? Please tell me one world leader of recent history who has given tough times to the country other than his or her own country. Mark my words, both Modi and Abdullah will be good or bad for their respective countries. For Pakistan, we are self sufficient with leaders who are already giving us tough times.
I have a feeling sales of medication for anxiety, paranoia and depression will increase significantly in Pakistan.
Abdullah as President of Afghanistan. Modi as Prime Minister of India.
Tough times ahead for Pakistan.
As far as Pakistan is concerned: Amrika is leaving and Abdulla Abdullah is taking over.