Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister will run for Egyptian presidency The next milestone is a Jan. 14-15 referendum on a new constitution. Shafik, a former air force commander who cited Mubarak as a role model during his election campaign, lost narrowly to Mursi in the run-off. Speaking from the United Arab Emirates, Shafik said it was possible he would return to Cairo to vote in the referendum. In an interview in September, he said he would not run for the presidency if Sisi did and added that Sisi had his full support. Sisi has yet to say if he will run. He enjoys wide support among those Egyptians who rejoiced at Mursi's overthrow, but he is reviled by the ousted president's supporters. Dates for presidential and parliamentary elections have yet to be set. Egyptian security forces have mounted one of the toughest crackdowns on the Brotherhood in its history, killing hundreds of its members and arresting top leaders. In an apparent attempt to capitalise on widespread anti-Brotherhood sentiment, Shafik called for maximum force to be used against the group. Islamist militant groups have stepped up bombing and shooting attacks on Egyptian security forces since Mursi's overthrow, raising fears of prolonged instability in the biggest Arab state.