Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi, the leader of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and widely known as Pir Pagara, has unequivocally rejected the outcomes of the General Elections 2024, subsequently announcing his decision to vacate two seats in the Sindh Assembly.
Following the GDA’s setback in the recent elections, Pir Pagara chaired a meeting attended by other key alliance figures. The gathering deliberated on allegations of electoral manipulation and biases perceived in the electoral process.
In his address to the media post-meeting, Pir Pagara expressed his disapproval of the election results, highlighting the disproportionate allocation of seats in Sindh to Asif Ali Zardari’s favour. He questioned the rationale behind awarding his party two seats if the intention was to favour Zardari overwhelmingly.
In response to the electoral outcome, Pir Pagara announced plans for a peaceful demonstration against the election results, specifying a sit-in scheduled for February 16 at the Hyderabad Bypass.
He critiqued the election results as being incongruent, especially considering the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) performance in Sindh, which he described as subpar.
Pir Pagara also shared an anecdote about being advised to disband the GDA in favour of forming an alliance with Zardari for electoral gain, a proposition he declined.
Additionally, he acknowledged the support for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its founder. He clarified that despite no familial ties, he commends the youth for their electoral participation and support for the PTI.
