KULOB, November 14, Asia-Plus -- After the Masoud-Sobirov-run wing of the Democratic Party (DPT) failed to field its candidate in a parliamentary by-election in the Kulob constituency, ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDPT) member will run unopposed.

As it had been reported earlier, PDPT has nominated Lieutenant-General Abdurahmon Azimov as its candidate for the parliamentary by-election in the Kulob region scheduled for December 16, 2007.  

Lieutenant-General Abdurahmon Azimov, 57, had formerly been commander of Tajik border troops.  

We will recall that the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) has refused to field its candidate in a local parliamentary by-election in Kulob.  The head of the IRPT organization for Kulob Muhammadsharif Nabiyev on October 25 stated the party’s decision to boycott the by-election if the party is not granted representation on local electoral commissions.  

The by-election in Kulob is called following the death of Khumdin Sharipov, who represented the Kulob district in the Majlisi Namoyandgon (the lower chamber of the Tajik parliament).