Strike Announced
The announcement was made by the opposition alliance led by National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has also declared support for the strike.
Speaking on the occasion, Mahmood Khan Achakzai alleged that public mandate was forcibly stolen on February 8 and that people were subjected to oppression. He criticized the introduction of what he termed “black laws,” including the PECA Act, and claimed that the independence of the judiciary had been undermined.
He said that while JUI-F wanted to organize public rallies, the opposition alliance preferred a wheel-jam strike as a form of protest. Achakzai added that all political parties strongly condemn terrorism and stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to ban Basant was a positive step.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced full support for the opposition’s wheel-jam strike and confirmed that all rallies and processions scheduled for February 8 have been cancelled. He also expressed deep sorrow over the recent Islamabad bombing.