THE PAKISTAN TEHREEK-I-INSAF (PTI) AND  GRAND DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (GDA) CALL FOR A JUDICIAL COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ‘FRAUDULENT’ ELECTIONS.

In Karachi, The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) have jointly called for a judicial commission to investigate allegations of electoral irregularities in the February 8 elections. Both parties emphasized that since the elections were conducted under the directive of the Supreme Court, it would be appropriate to establish a judicial commission under the auspices of the apex court to investigate the purported fraudulent activities during the polls. This consensus was reached during a meeting between PTI-Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh and GDA senior leader Sadruddin Shah Rashdi at Rashdi’s residence. The discussion centered on the aftermath of the elections, with both sides agreeing to push for a judicial inquiry into the alleged manipulation and rigging of the February 8 election results. Additionally, they expressed solidarity in their efforts to reclaim what they perceive as the “stolen” electoral mandate through legal and constitutional means. A statement issued by the GDA following the meeting affirmed the commitment of leaders from both parties to collaborate in challenging the fraudulent elections. The joint stance also called for the resignation of the chief election commissioner (CEC) due to perceived shortcomings in ensuring the fairness of the electoral process nationwide. The PTI pledged its support for the GDA’s protest demonstration scheduled to take place in Moro the following day. Earlier, during a press conference, Haleem Adil Sheikh asserted that PTI-backed candidates had secured victory in 20 out of Karachi’s 22 National Assembly seats and two out of three NA seats in Hyderabad during the February 8 polls. He further claimed that the PTI had also clinched 40 provincial assembly seats in Karachi. Sheikh highlighted discrepancies between the results recorded on Form-45 and those later reported on Form-47, alleging foul play in the electoral process. He urged the release of authentic election results as documented in Form-45, asserting that all relevant data had been made publicly available online by the PTI. Furthermore, Sheikh accused other parties, including the GDA and Jamaat-i-Islami, of benefiting from electoral malpractice, citing instances of seats being unlawfully obtained in rural areas of Sindh. He commended Jamaat-i-Islami leader Hafiz Naeem for relinquishing his seat, citing electoral rigging as the motivating factor behind his decision.