Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) have announced the boycott of the presidential election, which is scheduled today (Saturday).
GDA leader Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi has announced that his party will boycott the presidential election scheduled for March 9. Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi addressed a news conference and expressed his support for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in protest of what he called election rigging, asking GDA workers to join the protest.
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“Our joint struggle aims to give a mandate to the real representatives of the people,” the leader of the Grand Democratic Alliance stated. He stated that the results of the General Elections 2024 are still pending, adding that the mandate belongs to someone and would be granted to someone else. Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi stated that the GDA had rejected the elections and that its ‘peaceful’ protest would continue to the natural end.
On the other hand, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman refused to support Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential election. Maulana said he is obliged to follow the decision of the party, which decided not to participate in the presidential election.
Earlier, Maulana Fazlur Rahman disappointed the delegation of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) before, Maulana Fazlur Rahman also decided to not vote for PTI-backed SIC candidate Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
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PPP delegation requested Maulana Fazlur Rahman to vote for Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential election, to which Maulana Fazlur Rahman responded that he is bound by his party’s decision to not vote for someone in the presidential election.
Polling for Presidential election starts in national, provincial assemblies
Pakistan is all set to hold presidential elections to elect its 14th President for the next five years. Voting has commenced in National Assembly where MNAs and Senators will cast their vote.
Members of the provincial assembly have also started casting their votes in their respective provincial assemblies.
Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari and chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai are competing for the coveted position.