GDA leader dubs Sindh’s interim govt, police ‘B team of PPP’

Sindh’s caretaker government and police acted as the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) B team on Saturday by using force against the political workers in Karachi who were protesting against “election fraud”, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) General Secretary Sardar Abdul Rahim said on Sunday.

Rahim slammed the police for baton charging, tear gas shelling and arresting activists belonging to the GDA, the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

He said that the opposition parties’ protest in Karachi was peaceful, but the province’s interim government blocked the entire city and stopped the peaceful protest convoys by placing obstacles in their way at various places to appease the PPP.

“The [political] workers were subjected to severe violence, arrested and detained in lock-ups,” he said, adding that the caretaker government and the police acted as the PPP’s B team. He asserted that the public movement against the “fraudulent” elections would not stop now.

He also said the GDA, the JI, the PTI, the JUI-F and other political parties would observe a black day across Sindh on Tuesday (tomorrow) in protest against the “fake” mandate acquired by the PPP and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan through “rigging”.

Rahim said that peaceful demonstrations would be held in front of press clubs and the election commission’s offices in district headquarters, and black flags would be hoisted at the parties’ offices. He said workers associated with these parties would wear black armbands and hold protests.

He also said that the protest movement that has started against the “fraudulent” elections would not stop because of anyone’s threats, violence or arrests. Instead, he pointed out, it would gain momentum.

“The workers are not afraid, and their morale is high. The GDA and its allied parties will use all peaceful means of protest to get their rights.” On Saturday a tense situation had been observed across Karachi as the opposition parties took to the streets to lodge their protest when the newly elected MPAs were taking the oath of office in the Sindh Assembly.

To stop the protesters from entering the city and reaching the assembly, police had put up several blockades at the Toll Plaza on the Super Highway and on Sharea Faisal.

These protests and blockades paralysed life in the city for several hours. Incidents of clashes between the police and the protesters were witnessed, resulting in the detention of over 150 individuals, including women, by the police.

Ambulances remained stuck in traffic jams for many hours. Inter-city bus terminals were also closed until the evening, and flights experienced delays. Residents were stranded in their homes due to the protests.

Several videos recorded by media persons showed workers of different political parties being arrested by the police and baton charged. A video showed police dragging two young female workers of the Qaumi Awami Tehreek towards a van and pushing them into it.

The flight operation at the Karachi airport had also been disturbed as many passengers could not reach the terminal in time because of the blockades. In the meantime, the railways authorities had established two temporary stops for trains at the Drigh Road and Landhi

stations.