K-P shuts offices in pen-down strike

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government observed a complete pen down strike on Wednesday, halting all non-emergency official work across the province.

The day-long protest, ordered by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, marked the first time in the country's history that a provincial chief executive had shut down administrative operations to challenge federal policies.

Offices remained open, but no files were moved, no documents signed, and only emergency services functioned. "This is a peaceful but powerful message to the federation," a government spokesperson said. "Our rights are being systematically ignored."

According to a statement issued from the Chief Minister's Secretariat, the strike was called in response to deliberate and persistent discriminatory treatment by the federal government. Specific grievances include an unfair share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, unequal distribution of electricity and gas resources, and what K-P officials call a pattern of fiscal and administrative marginalization.

The protest also highlighted the provincial government's growing frustration over the detention conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. K-P authorities allege that the couple is being denied access to personal physicians, family visits, and adequate legal consultations, describing the restrictions as inhumane and illegal.

Chief Minister Afridi had announced the strike earlier this week, urging all provincial departments to suspend routine paperwork and join what he termed a "symbolic revolt of the pen."

While no major disruptions to public services were reported, the strike drew mixed reactions. Federal government officials have yet to issue a formal response, though political analysts see the protest as a sharp escalation in centre-province tensions.