Qanuni set to launch own political party

The party, a new democratic exercise for Afghanistan after 23 years of fighting Soviet occupation and internal conflict, has been recruiting volunteers from all over the country to spread its message and garner support.

Every day, hundreds of young Afghans come to the party’s headquarters in Kabul and queue up for an audience with Qanuni or his top aides and to make a contribution. The party also tries to recruit members from business and professional sectors to ensure a broad base. Students at its educational centres start learning politics at the age of 15.

‘‘We want to set the intellectual foundation for the future generation. First we try to win people’s hearts, then their political allegiance,’’ party secretary Sayyed Bani said, adding that the party’s operations were financed by funds inherited from Masood. Qanuni, along with Defence Minister Mohammad Fahim and Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, were among three proteges of Masood who dominated Karzai’s six-month interim government.

While Fahim and Abdullah managed to keep their posts in Karzai’s new transitional government, which took office last week, Qanuni feels left out. The creation of the party, many say, is his way to get back at Karzai.

The President has welcomed any political challenge marking a break from the violent past. ‘‘Why not? It is legitimate for all Afghans to have the right to run for any office. It is a good thing that Qanuni wants to have a political party,’’ Karzai said.

But Qanuni has attracted modest support from former allies, many of whom appear to have their own agendas and ambitions. Both Fahim and Abdullah have distanced themselves from his party.

‘‘If you ask me whether or not I want to be a member of that party, my answer is ‘no’,’’ Abdullah said last week. ‘‘I don’t know the definition and nature of that party.’’ Even Burhanuddin Rabbani, Qanuni’s mentor and a former president, does not sound too excited. ‘‘The party is still budding. I do not know what they intend to do with that. I will have to wait and see what comes out of it,’’ he said.

‘‘Everyone wants to have his own political party. Soon we will have the same mess of politics as we had of war,’’ said Takhar province governor Sayyed Karamuddin.

(Reuters)