148 of the 168 newly elected members of the Provincial Sindh Assembly were sworn in despite a delayed start amid stringent security measures.
Following Quranic recitations, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani led the oath-taking amidst assembly slogans. Subsequent elections will determine the speaker and deputy speaker, aligning with assembly protocols. Yet, four members abstained from the oath for various reasons, including two senators with provincial seats. After announcing his departure from his PS-129 seat, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman of Jamat-e-Islami Karachi didn’t receive his notification. Additionally, the PPP’s Abdul Aziz Junejo, who was elected for PS-80, passed away.
Before the ceremony, police detained 10 Qaumi Awami Tehreek workers, protesting outside the Sindh Assembly against the February 8 general election’s alleged rigging, encountering police baton charges.
The Grand Democratic Alliance, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI, Ameer Jamat-e-Islami (JI) factions planned a “peaceful” protest outside the assembly, denouncing the alleged theft of the public’s mandate, according to GDA Secretary Sardar Abdul Raheem.
Political parties’ caravans faced blockades en route to Karachi, with numerous protestors detained near the assembly.
MQM-P announced Sofia Saeed and Rashid Khan as their speaker and deputy speaker nominees, urging province-wide issue resolutions in unity with other parties.
PPP’s chief ministerial candidate, Murad Ali Shah, highlighted their electoral success and committed to addressing Pakistan’s challenges through cross-party collaboration.
In anticipation of protests, the Sindh government enforced Section 144 in South Zone Karachi, banning public assemblies and demonstrations for 30 days.
Sindh’s interior minister emphasized the strict security measures around the assembly area, warning against disruptions to peace.
