GDA leaders call for unbiased election officers

Say they believe interim setup is continuation of PPP regime

KARACHI:

Leaders of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), a conglomerate of anti-PPP parties, Dr Fehmida Mirza and Sardar Abdul Rahim, have said that the appointment of neutral provincial election commissioners and officers is very important for a transparent election.

Talking to the media after meeting Caretaker CM Justice (Retd) Madqbool Baqar, they said that they have full trust in the integrity of the caretaker chief minister, but they believe that the interim setup is a continuation of the PPP government.

GDA leaders Irfanullah Khan Marwat, Hasnain Mirza, Abdul Razzaq Rahman were also present in the meeting at the Chief Minister's House on Monday. Mirza and Rahim told the media persons that they have submitted their demands for unbiased election officers and if these demands were not met, they would plan action with allies. They said that they would meet the Chief Election Commissioner in Islamabad on October 11 regarding reservations over holding free and fair polls.

Mirza said there is destruction everywhere in Sindh, corruption is so rampant that in every department from law and order to education, and health, the entire system has gone rotten to the core.

"Today our youth is victim of substance abuse. Drug dealers work freely in slums as well as in posh localities. Drugs in educational institutions seem to be state-sponsored," Mirza said.

She said that Karachi is at the mercy of bandits, no street or neighbourhood is safe, and citizens are losing their lives every day.

On this occasion, Sardar Abdul Rahim said that the delegation of GDA has met the caretaker CM. "We have put our demands before him. We believe that the caretaker government is the continuation of the previous government of PPP.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2023.