Wheel jam closes some roads in Peshawar, but businesses remain open in many districts
PESHAWAR:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday observed a province-wide wheel stoppage and shutdown strike across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including the capital Peshawar, to protest alleged fraud in the February 8, 2024 general elections. The strike saw a mix of large-scale mobilization in some urban centers and limited disruption in others, with business activity continuing in many areas.
In the provincial capital, PTI workers staged protests and enforced shutdowns on several major roads and highways. Public transport services were suspended in parts of the city, although the government-run Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service remained operational. Taxi services were also reported to be functional in various areas.
Despite the strike call, commercial activity continued in several parts of Peshawar. Shops remained open in some markets, while food outlets and key commodity stores operated in selected locations.
Food Street at Fawara Chowk in Peshawar Cantonment was reported to be fully active and most shops along University Road also remained open.
PTI Deputy Information Secretary Ikram Khatana said the party observed a complete strike in all districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and organized district-level protest rallies.
In Peshawar, a foot march was planned from Hashtnagri to Chowk Yadgar with the participation of the district leadership, party workers and members of the business community. The march was to be led by PTI KP president Junaid Akbar who along with other senior leaders was expected to address workers once they reached Chowk Yadgar.
Similar protest demonstrations were planned across the province to be led by PTI MNAs and MPAs in their respective constituencies.
The strike’s effect was uneven outside the capital. In Swabi, all markets, malls and commercial hubs remained open despite the shutdown call and traffic flowed normally throughout the district. Nedre Dir also reported that business centers were operating as usual and that public transport was running as planned.
In Charsadda, shops and markets throughout the district remained open without significant traffic disruption; PTI announced a protest demonstration at Farooq-e-Azam Chowk at 3 p.m. Authorities in Charsadda confirmed a police deployment of around 4,200 personnel to maintain law and order.
The provincial action took place against a wider national backdrop, with the PTI and allied opposition parties reaffirming their resolve to continue with nationwide protests and strikes, describing February 8 as both a “black day” and a “day of mourning”.
The administration moved to tighten security, imposing Section 144 in parts of Islamabad and implementing measures to curb mobilization. At the same time, several opposition figures condemned a recent deadly explosion in Islamabad and called for peaceful demonstrations and restraint.
As tensions simmer in KP, the administration in neighboring Punjab has moved to block any potential spillover of the protests. The Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi, Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema, has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code across the district for 15 days with effect from February 7 to February 21, 2026.
An official notification issued by Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi’s office on 7 February 2026 imposing Section 144 in the entire district for 15 days to ban all rallies, protests and gatherings of five or more people.
The order cites intelligence reports from the District Intelligence Committee (DIC) regarding an “imminent threat” and mobilization of certain groups intent on disrupting law and order near sensitive installations and prominent roads. According to the ban, all kinds of assemblies, gatherings, rallies and demonstrations involving five or more people are strictly prohibited.
The Rawalpindi administration has also banned the carrying of weapons, use of loudspeakers, pillion riding and any attempt to remove police restrictions on movement.
Read: PTI, op block stands firm as government moves to deter strike
Opposition leaders at a joint press conference yesterday criticized the government’s handling of security and called for accountability; they also appealed to the public to observe the day calmly and remain indoors where possible. Senior opposition figures, including PTI and TTAP representatives, framed the protests as a response to what they described as failures in governance and security.
Law enforcement agencies remained on high alert in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with contingency plans in place to manage rallies and protect public safety. There were no immediate reports of major, coordinated violence in the province during the day, and local officials described the overall situation as largely under control as they monitored developments.
PTI leaders said that demonstrations would continue in the coming days and that the district and provincial leadership would monitor further protest activity. Local trade associations and civic groups offered mixed reactions to the strike call, with some expressing support for the party’s demands for accountability and others calling for the resumption of normal commercial activity.
– With additional input from Saleh Mughal in Rawalpindi
