PTI strike on elections anniversary sees mixed response
By Sabeeh Zanair :
Most commercial areas in Lahore and Islamabad continued business as usual on Sunday, despite a strike call issued by the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) to protest alleged irregularities in the 2024 general elections.
While a partial shutdown was reported in parts of Peshawar, Quetta witnessed a complete strike, with markets closed and transport largely off the roads.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a key member of the TTAP, had announced the strike to mark the second anniversary of the February 8, 2024 elections, which the party claims were rigged. The party also declared a day of mourning in response to Friday’s suicide bombing at an Islamabad imambargah that killed at least 36 people.
In Islamabad, TTAP leaders were unable to hold a planned torchlight rally outside Faisal Mosque, citing road blockages and the detention of party workers. Despite these hurdles, several senior figures including Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and former senator Mushtaq Ahmed reached the venue.
TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the protest marked the beginning of a broader movement rather than a one-day event. PTI Islamabad president Amir Mughal alleged that police had detained more than two dozen party workers, including eight women, though police officials did not confirm the arrests.
Mixed response across provinces
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI organised rallies at district and tehsil levels, with limited participation from traders and transport unions. Some areas of Peshawar’s interior city observed partial closures, while many markets remained open. PTI workers staged a protest in Hashtnagri Bazaar, which later turned into a public gathering at Chowk Yadgar.
PTI leader Omar Ayub claimed that Haripur observed a full transport shutdown. However, daily life in Karachi and most of Sindh continued normally. Police blocked several roads in Karachi near sensitive locations to prevent demonstrations.
Trader representatives in Karachi said most markets were closed simply because Sunday is typically a holiday. However, PTI leaders shared images claiming that some electronics markets had shut in support of the strike.
In Punjab, markets in Lahore showed no significant impact from the strike call. Traffic flow remained normal, and many shops were closed due to Sunday and ongoing Basant celebrations rather than political reasons.
In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, most major markets remained open, and the popular H-9 weekly bazaar saw heavy public activity, suggesting little public response to the protest call.
Complete shutdown in Balochistan
In contrast, Quetta observed a full shutter-down and wheel-jam strike. Markets, shopping centres and public transport remained closed, while mobile internet services were suspended. PTI and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party workers staged demonstrations, and clashes were reported between protesters and police in several areas.
PTI’s Balochistan chapter claimed that around 40 workers were arrested, while reports from multiple districts confirmed small-scale protests and road blockages.
Political reactions
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja described the strike as a constitutional method for public protest, encouraging citizens to express dissent peacefully from their homes.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI leader Asad Qaiser praised the strike as successful, alleging that authorities forced shops to reopen in some areas.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz dismissed the impact of the strike, stating on social media that there was “zero protest” across the province.
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