KARACHI: The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) has announced to support Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the National Assembly and be a part of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi made the announcement after meeting GDA chief Pir Pagara Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi at the Kingri House in Karachi. PTI leader Jehangir Tareen was also present along with local party leaders.
Qureshi said that both parties would be a part of the opposition in Sindh along with the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), and the joint opposition would decide the future course of action in the Sindh Assembly.
He strongly criticised Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for participating in the opposition parties’ protest against alleged rigging, saying that they had formed the Sindh government since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, and was protesting despite winning more seats than previous elections.
He thanked the people of Sindh, particularly of Karachi, for turning out and voting for them in large numbers despite all hardships. The PTI leader also said that Sindh received royalty worth Rs100 billion for oil and gas in ten districts, but there was no accountability, and the matter had been discussed in detail with the GDA leadership.
Qureshi said there was no denying that MQM was a political reality, and they would work together for the betterment of Karachi. He said Imran Khan’s willingness to open any constituency was not a political statement and more than thirty constituencies had already been reopened across the country, adding that Khan would decide the constituency which he would keep for himself.
Pir Pagara announced to support Imran Khan for the upcoming elections of prime minister, saying he should step forward for the betterment of the country and they would support him unconditionally in all circumstances.
The spiritual leader of the Hur Movement said that several GDA leaders were made to lose the elections through conspiracies and they would peacefully protest against it.