Opposition Strike on Election Anniversary Sees Mixed Response Across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD / QUETTA / PESHAWAR / LAHORE: A shutter-down and wheel-jam strike called by opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayin Pakistan (TTAP), with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a key partner, to mark the second anniversary of the controversial February 8, 2024 general elections met a mixed nationwide response on Sunday. The call, aimed at denouncing alleged “rigging” and voicing political discontent, played out unevenly from Balochistan to Punjab. (Dawn)

In Quetta, markets, shops and public transport were effectively paralysed for most of the day as supporters of TTAP and allied parties observed a near total shutdown. Protesters blocked key intersections, erected barricades and staged rallies, while police used tear gas to disperse crowds in several areas. Mobile internet services were reportedly suspended as authorities sought to maintain order. Officials confirmed multiple detentions during the demonstrations, though major violence was largely avoided.

By contrast, Lahore and Islamabad saw daily life largely continue as usual. Commercial hubs in Lahore carried on typical Sunday activity, a factor many traders attributed to the day’s status as a weekend and the last day of the Basant festival, while markets in the federal capital remained open with regular traffic flow. Authorities said most businesses and transport services operated normally as traders showed little inclination to close shops in support of the opposition’s call. (The Express Tribune)

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa reported a patchy strike response. In Peshawar, wheel-jams and protests took place in parts of the city, with rallies at historic Chowk Yadgar and some market closures. However, other districts saw routine commercial activity with shops and transport functioning normally, reflecting a split in compliance.

In Punjab, the strike call “fell flat,” with the provincial capital witnessing negligible protest turnout as people opted for regular weekend life, the government highlighted. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz mocked the effort, declaring “zero protest/strike/shutter down” across the province.

TTAP and PTI leaders nonetheless defended the day as a significant political statement. PTI’s Salman Akram Raja described the strike as a “constitutional method to express irritation with the system,” framing Feb 8 as both a “Black Day” and a day of mourning for what they term a “stolen vote and terrorism.” Critics, including government ministers, said the public rejected antagonistic politics and preferred stability and development.

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