Omer Daudzai emerges as strong candidate to replace Karzai

Afghan ambassador to Pakistan hints at becoming a candidate, says final decision has not been made.

ISLAMABAD: Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Daudzai has emerged as a strong candidate to replace Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the next year’s presidential elections in Afghanistan, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Daudzai, talking to The Express Tribune, hinted that he may become a candidate for the next year’s presidential elections in Afghanistan but he will hold further consultations before formally making an announcement.

Daudzai, a close confidant of Karzai, clarified his remarks published in a British daily that ‘he is preparing to launch his campaign for the presidential elections’. Daudzai said that he has not yet made a final decision of being a candidate.

“I cannot say that I am a candidate. Also I cannot say that I am not a candidate,” the Afghan ambassador said in Islamabad. “I need to further think and consult and then I will make a decision,” he said.

Afghan sources said that consultations on the name of Daudzai had continued for long among the inner circles of President Karzai, who cannot run for third time under the Afghan constitution.

The sources also refuted Afghan media reports that President Karzai may support his brother if he stands for the post.

“President Karzai will never want to leave a legacy that his family member replaces him,” said an Afghan official, who was privy to the ongoing consultations in Kabul about Karzai’s replacement.

People close to Karzai also think that a man with some ‘Islamic credentials’ should replace Karzai to win support among the people in Afghanistan and the Islamic world.