Grand Democratic Alliance

Grand Democratic Alliance
گرانڈ جمہوری اتحاد
گرانڊ ڊيموڪريٽڪ الائينس
AbbreviationGDA
LeaderPir of Pagaro VIII
General SecretarySafdar Ali Abbasi[1]
SpokespersonSaira Bano[2]
FounderPir of Pagaro VIII
Founded23 October 2017 (2017-10-23)[3]
IdeologyPopulism[4][5][6]
Regionalism
Anti-PPP[7]
Anti-feudalism[8]
Political positionBig tent
Colors  Green
Senate
1 / 100
Sindh Assembly
3 / 168
Election symbol
Star
Party flag

The Grand Democratic Alliance (Urdu: گرانڈ جمہوری اتحاد; Sindhi: گرانڊ ڊيموڪريٽڪ الائينس) is a regional political alliance based in Sindh, Pakistan. It was founded on 23 October 2017 as a political movement against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in Sindh, accusing it of poor governance, fascism and corruption. The alliance claims that the people of Sindh are unhappy with the PPP government.[9]

History[edit]

On 23 October 2007, Grand Democratic Alliance was formed in Sindh, Pakistan. On 26 November 2017, the leaders of the GDA participated in GDA's first official meeting to be held in Sukkur on November 26.[10][11] The alliance was formed to defeat the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the Sindh province, which is considered a stronghold of the PPP. The alliance has been seen as a major challenger to the PPP in the 2018 elections.[12][13] The GDA opposed the feudalist system in Sindh, Which is openly supported by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) it has supported the anti-feudal elements against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Sindh along with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).[14]

During political unrest in Pakistan following the ousting of Imran Khan in 2022, the GDA leadership including the alliance head, Pir of Pagaro VIII issued statements supporting Imran Khan, mainly during the 2024 election.[15][16][17]

2018 general elections[edit]

For the 2018 Pakistani general election, the GDA joined hands with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf by forming seat adjustments in more than ten seats with the aim of defeating the PPP. As a result of the election, the GDA won 14 seats in the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, three seats in the National Assembly and garnered almost 15% of the vote in Sindh.[18][19]

2024 general elections[edit]

In the 2024 Pakistani general election, the GDA continued its alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf during despite crackdown on the party.[20][21] The GDA ran against PPP candidates in several constituencies, but unlike the 2018 election, the GDA did not win many seats and a much lesser number of 2 Sindhi provincial seats were won by the GDA.[22] The elections countrywide and in Sindh were plagued with allegations of rigging in favor of the PPP and PML-N.[23][24][25][26] These allegations were spearheaded by the PTI, but were supported by the GDA.[27][21] In response to the elections, the GDA, as well as its allies, the Jamaat-e-Islami, JUI-F and PTI rejected the elections as rigged.[28][29][30] The alliance’s head Pir of Pagaro VIII alleged that the elections were rigged, and forfeited the two seats in protest.[31] The 2024 elections for the GDA are generally considered a defeat for the alliance, with it being overshadowed by the PPP and MQM-P according to some reports,[32] Although, the GDA and its allies attribute these results to rigging.[33] The GDA still holds three seats in the Sindh Assembly.[34]

Subsequent protests[edit]

The Grand Democratic Alliance’s leadership launched large-scale protests and marches against the PPP government in protest of their alleged rigging in the 2024 elections.[35] The GDA declared February 27th, the day of the election results as a ‘Black day’ and compared the Sindh elections to the 1970 elections where Sheikh Mujibur Rehman’s mandate was stolen.[36] The protests were called a ‘million march’ by some sources and consisted of rallies and protests through out rural Sindh, mainly in Karachi by GDA leaders. The anti-PPP protests and rallies were supported by the JUI-F, JI and PTI-SIC.[28]

Member parties[edit]

The following individuals and political parties are part of the GDA:[37]

Parties joining later[edit]

Name Flag National

Leader

Main ideology Political Position Symbol
SUP Sindh United Party[38]
سندھ یونائیٹڈ پارٹی 		Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah Sindhi nationalism Left-wing Car

Initial parties[edit]

Name Flag National

Leader

Main ideology Political Position Symbol
QAT Qaumi Awami Tehreek
قومی عوامی تحریک 		Ayaz Latif Palijo Progressivism Far-left Whistle
PML(F) Pakistan Muslim League (F)
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ف) 		Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi Islamic democracy Centre-right Rose
SNF Sindh National Front
سندھ‎ قومی محاذ 		Mumtaz Bhutto Sindhi nationalism Left-wing
—
PPP-W Pakistan Peoples Party Workers[39]
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی ورکرز 		Safdar Abbasi Social democracy Centre-left Victory sign
PPP-SB Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto)[40]
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی (شہید بھٹو) 		Ghinwa Bhutto Democratic socialism Left-wing Fist[41]
NPP National Peoples Party
نیشنل پیپلز پارٹی‎ 		Murtaza Jatoi Secularism
—
 Hand saw

Former parties[edit]

Name Flag National

Leader

Main ideology Political Position Symbol
PML(Q) Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ق) 		Shujaat Hussain Conservatism Centre-right Tractor

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sindh ECP receives in all 1405 nomination papers so far". The Nation (newspaper). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  2. ^ "GDA's Saira Bano to contest election from NA-210". 24 News HD. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  3. ^ "PPP rivals to formally register Grand Democratic Alliance". Express Tribune. 23 October 2017.
  4. ^ Desk, Web (2024-02-15). "PTI voices support for GDA's protest against 'election rigging'". ARY NEWS. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  5. ^ NNI (2024-02-25). "PTI, GDA, JI say will observe 'black day' on 27th". Brecorder. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  6. ^ "GDA intensifies protest against 'rigged' general elections". The Express Tribune. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  7. ^ "GDA the anti-PPP alliance". Dawn. 11 December 2017.
  8. ^ "The History of Peoples Movement in Sindh". archive.org.
  9. ^ Mansoor, Hasan (February 2003). "The pathology of military democracy: Manufacturing a government in Sindh". Himal South Asia. Archived from the original on 2008-01-10.
  10. ^ "PPP rivals to formally register Grand Democratic Alliance". The Express Tribune. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  11. ^ "Mirzas join Pagara-led GDA, to contest election from Badin". Dawn. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Pakistan General Election: Grand Democratic Alliance may pose formidable challenge to ruling PPP in Sindh". Firstpost. 14 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Pagara, Chaudhrys join hands to make a 'formidable' poll alliance". Dawn. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  14. ^ "The History of Peoples Movement in Sindh". archive.org.
  15. ^ Desk, Web (2024-02-15). "PTI voices support for GDA's protest against 'election rigging'". ARY NEWS. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  16. ^ "Incoming coalition govt won't last 10 months, says Pir Pagara". Dunya News. 2024-02-17. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  17. ^ https://www.samaa.tv/208739836-pir-pagara-claims-election-results-sold-three-months-ago-alleges-prearrangement
  18. ^ "Election 2018: PTI makes seat adjustment with five political parties - Pakistan". 14 February 2008.
  19. ^ "PTI makes seat adjustment with Pir Pagara's GDA to defeat PPP in Sindh | SAMAA".
  20. ^ "Incoming coalition govt won't last 10 months, says Pir Pagara". Dunya News. 2024-02-17. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  21. ^ a b Lodhi, Nadim Asrar,Areesha. "Pakistan election updates: Crackdown threats as PTI protests 'rigging'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Desk, BR Web (2024-02-12). "GDA not to take oath on 2 provincial seats won in Feb 8 elections: Pir Pagara". Brecorder. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  23. ^ Hussain, Abid. "'Election engineering': Is Pakistan's February vote already rigged?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  24. ^ Board, Editorial (2024-02-12). "Opinion | Pakistan's shocking election result shows authoritarians don't always win". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  25. ^ "Why Forms 45 and 47 are at the heart of Pakistan's election rigging controversy". The Indian Express. 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  26. ^ "Pakistan official admits involvement in rigging election results". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  27. ^ https://www.samaa.tv/208739836-pir-pagara-claims-election-results-sold-three-months-ago-alleges-prearrangement
  28. ^ a b "Pakistan: GDA, JI and JUI-F reject February 8 polls, demand fresh elections". The Economic Times. 2024-02-28. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  29. ^ NNI (2024-02-25). "PTI, GDA, JI say will observe 'black day' on 27th". Brecorder. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  30. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2024-02-10). "GDA, Jamaat reject poll results". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  31. ^ "Pir Pagara alleges rigging, forfeits two Sindh Assembly seats won by GDA". Dunya News. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  32. ^ Ayub, Ishaq Tanoli | Mohammad Hussain Khan | Imran (2024-02-10). "Rise of Muttahida, GDA's defeat in election surprise voters in Sindh". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  33. ^ "GDA intensifies protest against 'rigged' general elections". The Express Tribune. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  34. ^ "Welcome to the Website of Provincial Assembly of Sindh". www.pas.gov.pk. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  35. ^ "GDA intensifies protest against 'rigged' general elections". The Express Tribune. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  36. ^ NNI (2024-02-25). "PTI, GDA, JI say will observe 'black day' on 27th". Brecorder. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  37. ^ "GDA to get registered with ECP, contest general election with full force". Dawn. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  38. ^ "SUP joins GDA to make a stand against 'bad' governance". The News International. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  39. ^ Imran Mukhtar (14 July 2018). "Pakistan General Election: Grand Democratic Alliance may pose formidable challenge to ruling PPP in Sindh". firstpost.com.
  40. ^ Imran Mukhtar (14 July 2018). "Pakistan General Election: Grand Democratic Alliance may pose formidable challenge to ruling PPP in Sindh". firstpost.com.
  41. ^ "ECP allots election symbols to 103 political parties | Pakistan Today". archive.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
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