PESHAWAR: Protest processions and rallies were held across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the call of opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), condemning ‘rigging’ in the general elections held on February 8, 2024.
The processions and rallies, led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders, were also attended by workers of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).
Besides condemning alleged rigging in the previous general elections, protesters also demanded release of PTI founder Imran Khan, his spouse Bushra Bibi and other incarcerated leaders and workers of the party.
In Peshawar, traders partially observed the strike and kept their businesses shut. Traffic was smooth in the provincial capital and major bus stands remained open.
PTI workers from across the city gathered at Hashtnagri Bazaar from where they took out a protest procession. Holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans for the release of Imran Khan and Haqiqi Azadi, they marched on different roads including Ashraf Road and Rampura Gate.
Traders give mixed response to call for strike by TTAP
The rally converted into a public gathering when it reached Chowk Yadgar where PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar Khan, MNAs Sher Ali Arbab and Asif Khan, Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, Peshawar district president Irfan Saleem and other leaders addressed the protesters.
Junaid Akbar said that he was waiting for the call of party leadership regarding their protest at D-Chowk Islamabad.
In Mansehra city and its suburbs, majority of shopkeepers and traders observed a shutter-down strike on the call of TTAP. Traders in upper parts of Hazara division kept their businesses partially closed.
Although transporters didn’t give call for wheel-jam strike, most of the passenger vehicles remained off road, causing inconvenience to commuters.
In Haripur district, a partial strike was observed.
Traders at the main bazaar kept their shops closed from morning till afternoon. However, traders of Sabzi Mandi, GT Road, Sera-i-Saleh, Khalabat Township and Khanpur observed a partial strike. Transporters of long routes kept their vehicles off the road while local transport vehicles were seen picking and dropping passengers.
PTI leaders Omar Ayub Khan, Yousuf Ayub Khan and MPA Akbar Ayub Khan addressed protesters at Sidiq-i-Akbar Chowk. They lambasted the federal government and accused it of stealing the 2024 elections.
In Bannu district, a complete strike was observed as sit-ins were held on all major roads and main highways. Markets and commercial centres remained closed, partially disrupting routine of daily life.
Protesters blocked various points on DI Khan Road, Bannu-Kohat Road, Indus Highway and Miramshah Road by burning tyres and placing barricades, which affected the flow of traffic. However, they allowed ambulances to pass through the blocked points.
MNA Maulana Naseem Ali Shah, Naseer Ali Shah, Malik Shah Mohammad Khan Wazir, Masoom Wazir, Malik Adnan Khan, Malik Hikmat Yar Khan, Pir Kamal Shah, Israr Wazir, Sahibzada Idrees and Iqbal Jadoon led the protesters.
In Mohmand district, protest rallies were held and a complete shutter-down strike against ‘rigging’ in previous general elections was observed. Protesters were led by MNA Sajid Khan Mohmand, MPA Malik Mehboob Sher, MPA Dr Mohammad Israr, Mohmand Malik Naveed Ahmad, Rahim Shah, Amirullah Junadi and Fakhar Alam Mohmand.
Due to the protest, shops in Mian Mandi Bazaar remained closed. Similar protests were held in Lower Mohmand’s Ekkaghund Bazaar, where PTI observed a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike.
MNA Sajid Khan Mohmand, MPA Malik Mehboob Sher, Malik Naveed Ahmad, Qari Rahim Shah, Naveedullah, Javed Khan, Dr Majeed, Dr Tayyab, Dr Raj Mohammad, Hayat Sahar, Malik Nadir, Shoaib and Haider Shah participated in the protest rally.
A complete strike was also observed in Ghalanai and Ambar Darawo bazaars.
In Charsadda, most of shops and markets remained open. However, PTI workers held rallies at Farooq Azam Chowk.
Charged workers lashed out at local MNAs and did not allow them to address rallies. Provincial Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan, MNAs Fazal Mohammad Khan and Malik Anwar Taj, MPAs Arshad Umarzai, Arif Ahmadzai, Khalid Khan Mohmand and Iftikharullah reached Farooq Azam Chowk in processions.
Led by Asad Khan and Abid Khan, annoyed workers alleged that elected public representatives of PTI did not make serious efforts to make the strike a success.
In Lower Dir, partial shutter-down strike was observed as most markets and shops in Timergara, Chakdara, Gulabad and Balambat remained open.
Routine business activities continued in many areas of the district. However, PTI workers staged protests at various points by burning tyres and blocking roads, which led to partial disruption of traffic in different parts of the district for some time.
In Swabi, traders did not observe shutter-down on PTI’s call despite the fact that the party swept general elections 2024 in the district for third time.
In Bajaur, many bazaars and markets, including Khar, remained open while some were shut on Sunday.
Besides Khar, several other bazaars including Pashat and Nawagai, remained open throughout the day on Sunday.
However, some shops, mostly owned by PTI supporters, remained closed in Khar and Nawagai bazaars.
In Chitral, a mixed response was observed among traders in ChitraI city and Booni, the district headquarters of Upper Chitral, as appeal for a complete shutter-down strike was rejected.
Rallies were also held in Dera Ismail Khan and other districts of the province.
Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2026