Speaking to his supporters in Herat, presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai kicked-off an event on Friday during one of his first campaign trips to the western province by discussing national unity, equality and growth.
Ashraf Ghani, the former Finance Minister and World Bank economist, said that upon his victory in the June 14 runoff against Abdullah Abdullah, all Afghans would be treated equally in eyes of the law.
Local women were a large portion of the participants at the event on Friday. “The commitment that this presidential candidate has for rule law can save Afghanistan from the current crisis,” a female attendee named Bahara Bahar told TOLOnews.
Ghani promised residents of western Afghanistan that he would make Herat the center of industry and trade if elected. He also pledged to construct a central highway through Afghanistan connecting east and west, as well as create a committee to protect and renovate Herat's historical sites.
Challenging his rival Abdullah, Ghani asked the audience: “Will you vote for a candidate who will take you back to the past or for the one who will take you to the future? Will you vote for someone who reads off of paper and is not ready for debate or for someone who speaks articulately?"
A number of local religious scholars and tribal leaders attended the event and announced their support for Ghani.
Source/Fuente: http://www.tolonews.com/elections2014/ghani-first-campaign-trip-herat
