In a sweeping statement, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) chairman Pir Pagara stated that he believes a “emergency or martial law” can be implemented in the country, with the judiciary providing legal support, as his party protests the “rigged” February 8 general elections.
Several political parties took to the streets after the unofficial election results were released following the February 8 nationwide polls, while major political parties that won the most seats began efforts to seek allies and form alliances to form the next governments in the Centre and provinces.
A few days earlier, the Pagara-led GDA began an agitation drive against the alleged election cheating that resulted to the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) victory in Sindh.
“Army has tested everyone now […] no one can take control of the federation except military,” said Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi, better known as Pir Pagara, during a big rally in Sindh’s Jamshoro city over alleged election tampering.
Rashdi had strong misgivings about the 2024 election results, alleging that “the results had been sold and payments were disbursed almost three months before the conduct of the nationwide polls.”
He stated that his allies had urged electioneering, but he declined to spend a significant amount of money on public gatherings. “I avoid politics because it demands lying. An someone is regarded as a ‘great leader’ if they have the ability to distribute lies on a consistent basis.”
According to the alliance’s chief, recent polls have shown that the country lacks a national-level leader.
Hurs’ spiritual leader stated that they were protesting alleged electoral manipulation, not national institutions such as the military forces. He went on to say that the security forces kept the entire country safe and at peace.
Pagara also dismissed the proposal of boycotting the general elections, claiming that allowing people to see things in black and white would be counterproductive.
He indicated that the absence of a “national-level leader” would make it difficult for any party to run the country. Pagara predicted that ’emergency or martial law’ could be established in the country in case of any uncertain situation, and the judiciary would grant it legal cover.
