GDA forfeits Sindh Assembly seats

GDA: Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi, often known as Pir Pagara, has expressed his unwillingness to recognize the results of the recent general elections.

Pir Pagara announced his desire to resign from his two Sindh Assembly seats during a news conference held on Monday at Pagara House in Karachi, expressing worries over suspected election tampering and result manipulation.

“We will not take any charity seats,” Pir Pagara declared at the media conference, expressing his dissatisfaction with the voting process. He went on to say that the manipulation of election results was not the fault of Returning Officers (ROs), but rather the consequence of involvement by unknown forces.

“I do not feel like delivering a speech. “This election comes after the worst government, and we reject it,” Pir Pagara stated, emphasizing the gravity of his dissatisfaction.

Pagara described the election as “anti-state,” drawing parallels to the historical 1971 elections, in which the defeated side refused to acknowledge the mandate. He stated that he was under pressure to disband the GDA before the election and had even been offered an alliance with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. He rejected these recommendations, citing his dedication to the GDA’s autonomous political position.

Commenting on the suspected manipulation of results, Pagara claimed, “All of this is not the work of the ROs, but of someone else,” implying that foreign influences influenced the election result.

GDA leader Safdar Abbasi reiterated Pir Pagara’s remarks, announcing intentions to protest election cheating and result adjustments. Abbasi stated that the protest is slated for Friday at 11 a.m. near the Hyderabad Bypass, emphasizing their commitment to peaceful rallies till transparent elections are held.

“We will not allow the next government to operate… We will maintain peaceful protests until honest elections are held. “We will broaden the scope of the protest,” Abbasi declared, emphasizing the GDA’s intention to dispute the election results and demand electoral integrity.