[ Afghan Elections 2004-2005 ]

5. Mohammad MOHAQEQ
Born: 1935 (Hegira 1314) in Balkh Province
Political Affiliation: ran in 2004 presidential race as an independent, but is party leader of the Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami-ye Mardum-e Afghanistan)
First Vice-Presidential Running Mate in 2004: Nasir Ahmad Ensaf
Second Vice-Presidential Running Mate in 2004: Abdul Fayaz Mehrayin

Mohaqeq, an ethnic Hazara, finished a strong third among the 18 names on the presidential ballot in 2004, garnering 11.7 percent of the vote.
    He is a registered candidate for the national People's Council. Mohaqeq draws his primary support from Hazaras in central Afghanistan and in neighboring Iran. He served as one of five deputy chairmen to Hamid Karzai and as planning minister in the post-Taliban Interim Authority (2001-02); with the establishment of the Transitional Administration (June 2002-2004), he retained only the post of planning minister. Mohaqeq claimed to have been dismissed from the ruling cabinet by Karzai in early 2004, sparking much controversy, while Karzai's side maintained that Mohaqeq resigned (see "RFE/RL Afghanistan Report" 11 March 2004).
    The charismatic Mohaqeq heads the Shi'a Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan, which arose from a split with the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami Afghanistan).
    Last year, he described the situation in Afghanistan as a "crisis of power" that was obstructing the establishment of a "healthy political system" (Afghanistan Television). Mohaqeq claimed the Transitional Administration's failures provided lessons about how to "build a brighter future."
    In his 2004 campaign, Mohaqeq cited lingering insecurity in the country's southern and eastern regions as a priority. The Transitional Administration's policies in those troubled parts of the country represented "a dangerous mistake," he claimed (Afghanistan Television).

SOURCES: JEMB; RFE/RL; Radio Free Afghanistan; Ludwig W. Adamec, "Historical Dictionary of Afghanistan"; Martin Ewans, "Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics"; and as noted.