Sindh (Pakistan): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh plans to observe a Black Day in protest of what they describe as the theft of their electoral mandate, according to the Express Tribune. PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, along with Karachi Division President Raja Azhar and General Secretary Arsalan Khalid, led a rally in Karachi. The event included elected representatives from national and provincial assemblies who displayed Form 45, asserting their rightful victory. They also exhibited images of individuals they accuse of securing assembly seats through rigging. The rally, which covered various routes in Karachi, aims to garner public support against the alleged vote theft.
In a similar vein, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has called for February 8 to be a Black Day, denouncing alleged rigging in the 2024 elections. JI Karachi is organizing a significant demonstration outside the Election Commission of Pakistan’s Sindh office to mark the first anniversary of Black Day.
These protests underscore growing dissatisfaction with the electoral process and governmental actions in Sindh, as different opposition parties come together to demand accountability. Additionally, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), a coalition opposing the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), announced its intention to observe Black Day across Sindh, condemning alleged election rigging, unconstitutional actions, rising unemployment, worsening law and order, and contentious laws under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). This collective dissent highlights the increasing opposition to perceived electoral malpractice and government policies, as various political factions unite to advocate for transparency and fairness in the political process.