GDA to launch agitation drive against rigged elections

• GDA says phase 1 of the agitation drive to start on February 16. 
• Alliance to also reach out to other anti-PPP parties.
• GDA says PPP could never secure such a victory in Sindh.

The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) has announced that it would soon launch an agitation drive against the alleged rigging on February 8 that led to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) victory in Sindh and also decided that its two MPAs-elect will not join the new provincial assembly, reported The News.

The announcement was made by GDA leaders Pir Pagara and Dr Safdar Abbasi during a press conference on Monday after a meeting of the alliance attended by its top leaders reviewed the post-poll scenario in the province.

The GDA has announced under phase 1 of the agitation drive in the province protest sit-in would be staged on the Hyderabad Bypass on February 16. The alliance also shared that other anti-PPP parties would also be contacted to join their agitation drive.

GDA leader Pir Pagara rejected the general elections termed it anti-state elections, while warning that it could create dangerous repercussions for the state just like in 1970 when the leader of then East Pakistan Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not recognised as the chief of the majority party.

Pagara urged the state institutions to play their due role in the post-poll scenario in the country. He said the PPP could never secure such an overwhelming victory in the polls in Sindh because of their alleged bad governance during its 15-year rule of the province.

The GDA leader also assured that the upcoming agitation drive would be peaceful and they would not resort to any anti-state activity. He said the protest sit-ins to be staged by the GDA under its agitation drive would not hinder the free movement of the ambulances and other vehicles carrying families.

“We have been given two seats (in Sindh Assembly) as a charity. We give back these seats as they should better be given to Zardari,” said the GDA leader. He greeted the young followers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for extending overwhelming support to the candidates of their party in the February 8 general elections.

Dr Abbasi announced that the alliance would also stage a protest demonstration outside the Sindh Assembly on the day of the inaugural session of its new house to be formed after the February 8 general elections. He said the two MPAs-elect of the GDA would not take the oath of their office in the inaugural session in protest.