The strike was spearheaded by the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan (TTAP), an umbrella alliance of opposition parties led by the incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Marking the first anniversary of the polls, the opposition aimed to register a "public referendum" against what they term the "theft of the public mandate," reiterating allegations that the current coalition government rose to power through systemic rigging.
Balochistan Gridlock and Security Crackdown
In Balochistan, the strike’s impact was most pronounced. In the provincial capital of Quetta, normal life ground to a halt as traders voluntarily closed businesses and transporters stayed off the roads. The provincial administration responded with a massive security apparatus, deploying Frontier Corps and police units to maintain order. Despite these measures, protesters managed to block several key highways, leading to sporadic clashes and the arrest of numerous activists.
This unrest follows a period of extreme volatility in the province; just weeks prior, a large-scale military operation resulted in the deaths of over 200 militants and dozens of civilians, leaving the region on edge even before the political strike began.
Mixed Success in the North and South
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a PTI stronghold, saw a more fragmented response. While some commercial hubs in Peshawar remained closed, many traders ignored the call, leading to a "business-as-usual" atmosphere in several districts. Local officials noted that while certain shops were reportedly closed under pressure, the overall movement did not achieve the total paralysis the TTAP had envisioned.
Similarly, in Sindh and Punjab, the strike failed to gain significant momentum. In Lahore, the protest was almost entirely overshadowed by the government-sponsored Basant festival. As kite-flyers took to the rooftops, PTI leadership in Punjab reportedly pivoted to a "silent agitation" strategy, advising supporters to stay home rather than risk further arrests. Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb characterized the day as a "flop show" for the opposition, noting that the public preferred the festivities over political confrontation.
Political Deadlock Continues
Despite the varied turnout, PTI leaders remain defiant. Secretary General Salman Akram Raja described the day as one of "mourning for the stolen vote," while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shafi Jan hailed the shutdown in Balochistan as a clear message to the "puppet rulers" in Islamabad. Conversely, government officials maintain that the lackluster response in the heartlands of Punjab and Sindh proves that the public has rejected the politics of agitation in favor of stability.
The anniversary protests underscore a persistent reality in Pakistani politics: a year after the 2024 elections, the legitimacy of the electoral process remains a primary flashpoint, with the opposition showing no signs of backing down from their demand for the release of Imran Khan and a restoration of what they claim is the true democratic mandate.
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