PESHAWAR, June 1: A former Afghan diplomat and leader of the Rochester-based Afghan community Mohammad Humayun Shinwari has been elected to the Loya Jirga from his native Deh Bala district of Nangarhar province.

Reports emanating from Afghanistan reveal that as the tentative date (June 10) for the holding of the Loya Jirga draws near, election of members to the traditional grand council has picked momentum throughout the war-ravaged country.

For the two seats on the Loya Jirga from the Deh Bala district, a meeting was held at Jalalabad on Thursday, which elected Shinwari to represent the area on the grand council. The election was held in the presence of the two-member Loya Jirga Commission and the United Nations monitor.

A total of 60 people had submitted their candidatures for the two seats from Deh Bala district.

The election of Shinwari to the Loya Jirga has enhanced his chances for winning a berth in the 120-member parliament to be constituted from about 1,458 members who are scheduled to meet in Kabul from June 10 for deliberations on the formation of a new government.

The United States-based Afghan community has already nominated Shinwari to become a candidate against the refugee seat for the Loya Jirga.