Opposition parties express reservation over pre-poll rigging, caretaker cabinet in Sindh

GDA delegation presents evidence on tenders awarded for development after announcement of election schedule

KARACHI: The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leaders have demanded that the general elections in Sindh should be conducted in a fair and transparent way.

The caretaker cabinet formed in the province should be impartial and have no links to any political party, the alliance demanded, warning that if this does not happen, the GDA has the option to protest.

They said that the Chief Minister Fazlur Rehman has assured them of acknowledging their reservations.

GDA leaders Senator Muzaffar Ali Shah and former Sindh CM Arbab Ghulam Rahim expressed their concerns at a press conference held on Tuesday at CM House after holding talks with Rehman.

GDA leaders Sardar Rahim, Irfanullah Marwat and Naeemur Rehman were also part of the GDA delegation and attended the meeting.

The representatives of GDA held a meeting with Rehman and expressed their reservation over pre-poll rigging and cabinet members having criminal records and political affiliations. The delegation presented some evidence about tenders being awarded for development schemes after announcement of the election schedule.



Senator Shah, while talking to the media, said that the caretaker CM’s principal secretary is biased and they have registered a complaint against him to Rehman to remove him.

“We have heard that people who have faced murders charges in the past are being appointed in the cabinet. We can’t tolerate this. The cabinet must comprise neutral persons as has been done by the federal government,” Senator Shah said.

Referring to the transfer of former Karachi Commissioner Ejaz Ahmed Khan as the principal secretary to the CM, he said, “The [former] commissioner has been a close aide of the PPP [Pakistan Peoples Party] leadership and he has been appointed as principal secretary to the CM before the election, which shows the government’s intention.”



He also said that Sindh was suffering from severe water shortage and the province was in an abysmal state. He said the caretaker government should have non-political officials and so all political parties have confidence in the caretaker cabinet.

Rehman had assured them of cooperation, he said, adding that development work was being done in Marwat’s constituency without any tender, hence the caretaker government should look into it and the CM reassured them of an inquiry.

The CM reassured the delegation that the water situation in all three barrages will be improved by June 13.

Rahim said that Rehman had reassured the delegation of improving the situation and to induct non-political people, who have nothing to do with politics. If not, the GDA will protest.

He said the elections will be held on time and they had nothing against the interim CM and trusted him.



If any criminals are taken into the cabinet, they will not be accepted, he said.

Marwat said the incumbent government has started development work in his constituency located in the Mehmoodabad area. “We request the chief election commissioner to take notice of this issue,” he said.

Marwat said that development work under the darkness of night in his constituency was the beginning of pre-poll rigging.

Rehman said he was going to set up a complaint cell at CM House where all kind of complaints, particularly in connection with the election and its related work, will be received and addressed accordingly.

He said he was impartial and his team, the government and cabinet would also be impartial. “We are here with a one-point agenda to pave the way for free, fair and transparent elections,” he said.

According to CM House spokesperson, the GDA delegation expressed some reservations on different matters. Rehman assured them that all their reservations would be addressed. “We are here to facilitate all of you to the contest elections in an atmosphere free of any kind of interference and intervention,” he vowed.