KABUL, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- A former warlord and leader of his own party the Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan Gulbudin Hekmatyar registered with the election commission on Saturday to contest the coming presidential elections scheduled for July 20 this year.

Accompanied by his two deputies and scores of supporters, Hekmatyar after registering his name as presidential candidate told reporters that he is an "independent candidate" and wants the election commission to ensure holding free and fair elections that could facilitate the voters to choose their franchise in favor of their favorite candidates freely.

An anti-government warlord whose forces had fought against the government and the U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan for about 15 years, inked a peace deal with the government in 2016 and returned to Kabul in May 2017, Hekmatyar told reporters that he wants durable peace and security in Afghanistan.

Expressing concerns over the ongoing militancy and conflicts in his country, Hekmatyar added that the lingering fighting claims more than 100 lives every day and still six million Afghans are living as refugees outside the country.

Seven politicians including former national security advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar have registered their names to stand for presidency and the incumbent president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is expected to register his name possibly on Saturday or Sunday, which is the last day for the registration. Enditem

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