Four major political parties in Sindh, including the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI), have jointly announced plans for a protest during the upcoming maiden session of the new Sindh Assembly.
During a press conference, representatives of these parties declared that their members would not take the oath during the assembly session, and the protest would persist until their claims of mandate theft were addressed.
Leaders from these parties accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) of being a “rejected” party that allegedly stole votes meant for PTI and JI. In the recent General Elections 2024, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged as the largest party in the Sindh Assembly with 84 seats, followed by MQM with 28 seats. Independents, including those backed by PTI, secured 14 seats, while JI and GDA won two each.
However, the Home Minister, Brigadier (retd) Haris Nawaz, asserted that opposition parties would not be permitted to hold a protest outside the Sindh Assembly during its inaugural session due to Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). He underscored that demonstrations or rallies are not allowed outside the assembly premises and emphasized concrete security measures to maintain law and order.
The opposition’s consistent expression of concerns about alleged rigging in the General Elections 2024 and their decision to protest during the assembly session reflect the heightened political tensions and dispute over the electoral process in Sindh. The situation underscores the challenges in achieving consensus and addressing grievances related to the electoral outcomes.
