3. Biodata:
Stana Gul Sherzad was born 1958 in Sherzad district of Nangarhar province. He studied social sciences at University of Kabul. After doing his then compulsory service in the army, he worked as a teacher, and after the PDPA coup d’etat in 1978, migrated to Pakistan. After his return after the end of the Taleban regime, he worked for his party and did not hold any governmental positions.

The Afghan Millat party – one of the oldest in the country – has elected a new leader at its sixth congress, Stana Gul Sherzad, previously the party’s Secretary General. He replaced Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, the current Minister of Commerce and Industries, who had led the party since 1995. Ahady, who was present at the congress, congratulated his successor – and set another example of an elected leadership transition, still an exceptional case in the history of Afghanistan’s parties.(20121006)

When elected leader of Afghan Millat Party, Sherzad gave a speech, introducing himself as ‘not a khan, neither a wealthy nor powerful man, [but] a member of a middle class family.’ He spoke in favour of transparent elections and ‘clean’ election results. He also attacked the current government for failing to draw up a comprehensive strategy for combating administrative corruption. He referred to the Pakistani ‘rocket shelling of Kunar province’ but without mentioning the neighbouring country’s name, adding that Afghanistan ‘needs to sign strategic pacts’ with allied countries ‘for our own security and stability’.

He also called on countries still hosting millions of Afghan refugees not to force them to leave and on the Kabul government to develop a ‘clear plan for their return to the country.’

The members of the Supreme Council of Afghan Millat Party are:
Abdul Sabur Khedmat, Gholam Jilani Popal, Engineer Hamidullah Qalandarzai (former deputy communications minister and Khost governor), Dr Ghulam Faruq Miranai, Dr Muhammad Rahim Pashtunyar (he once led a leftist breakaway group, called Wolesi Millat that reunited with the main party after 2001), Ma’ruf Fazli (a parliamentary candidate in 2010 in Herat but disqualified by IEC), Abdul Ali Sarwari, Rahman Shah, Muhammad Ishaq Zaki, Abdulsamad Stanakzai, Abdul Hamid Namju, Faridullah Hessam, Engineer Raz Muhammad Faiz (a former Takhar MP), Gholam Sakhi Rahmanzai, Fazel Khaleq Shinwari, Mirwais Ahmadzai, Muhammad Sharif, Wais Sultani, Sher Agha Sayedi, Andalebzada, Muhammad Ayub Ishaqzai, Haji Nezamuddin, Muhammad Azim Spin, Shah Wali Ishaqzai, Sarbeland Khan, Muhammad Na’im, Muhammad Jan Naseri, Dr Nasim, Muhammad Ishaq Daqiq, Dr Ahmad Shah Zamanzai, Habib Rahim, Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, Muhammad Kabir Rahmani, Ajar Khan, Dr Abdul Qayum Aref, Rafiullah Rafi (a well-known political analyst and author) and (the five women) Roya Safi, Zarmina, Nuria Aryan, Roshan Watanpal and Zeba Safa.