KARACHI: Chief of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) Pir Pagara has reiterated his party’s support for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

During a meeting with a PTI delegation comprising Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jahangir Tareen, Dr Arif Alvi and Imran Ismail at Kingri House here on Thursday, he said the GDA would support Imran Khan for formation of the federal government and election of speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly.

Pir Pagara assured the PTI leaders that the GDA would fully cooperate with them in rooting out the menace of corruption from the country and leading Pakistan to its cherished goal of progress and prosperity.

The PTI delegation conveyed a special message from Imran Khan to Pir Pagara and held talks on the formation of the federal government and other important political matters. They also exchanged views on the appointment of the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly.

Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, Syed Ghaus Ali Shah, Ali Gohar Khan Mahar, Dr Fehmida Mirza, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Hasnain Mirza, Sardar Ghaus Bux Khan Mahar and other GDA leaders were present during the meeting.

Pir Pagara said the GDA’s peaceful protest against alleged rigging in the July 25 elections was not to create obstacles for Imran Khan, but it was against the conspiracy hatched to defeat the alliance in Sindh.

He said the PTI would get full support from the GDA in every step taken for the betterment and welfare of people.

Later talking to journalists, Jahangir Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi termed their talks with the GDA leadership very useful and said that “we are extremely grateful to Pir Pagara for extending full support to Imran Khan”.

Mr Qureshi said that under the leadership of Pir Pagara, the PTI would play its role for the development and progress of Sindh.

He said the PTI’s cooperation with the GDA had been even before the elections and “we had been in constant touch with each other”.

In reply to a question, Mr Qureshi said that the PTI, along with the GDA and MQM, would play the role of the opposition in Sindh.

He said that despite the fact that the PPP had bagged more seats than it won even after the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, it was protesting against rigging.

He said that this time people had voted for the GDA, but the PPP won more seats because an unprecedented use of money was witnessed in Sindh.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2018