What happened
The opposition’s call for a nationwide wheel-jam and shutter-down strike drew a largely muted response on Sunday 8 February 2026, with routine life continuing in most parts of the country despite scattered protests, Geo News reported, citing The News.
In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, markets, business centres and transport services remained fully operational and traffic moved freely. Police reported a peaceful situation through the day, with only a brief, small-scale protest attempt near Faisal Masjid that dispersed without arrests. Law enforcement maintained heightened security around sensitive areas, including the Red Zone and the Diplomatic Enclave.
The rally outside Faisal Masjid was attended by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, both vice-chairmen of Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aiyeen Pakistan (TTAP). An alliance spokesman said TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai was absent because of a prior commitment as chief guest at the Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore.
Regional picture
- Punjab: In Lahore, residents remained engaged in Basant festivities. In Chiniot district, traders and residents rejected the strike call, with markets remaining open in Chiniot, Bhowana and Lalian and traffic flowing normally.
- Sindh: PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh described the strike as a “peaceful public referendum” and claimed closures across major commercial hubs in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana and Mirpurkhas, saying intercity transport from Karachi was suspended. Ground reports indicated a mixed response: markets in Dadu operated partially, while shutter-downs were observed in Kotri and Jamshoro although traffic largely continued.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: The strike saw limited impact, with most markets, shops and transport services operating normally. Some trade centres and PTI workers in Peshawar, Shangla and Mansehra staged rallies, while major cities including Mardan, Lower Dir, Abbottabad, Karak and Chitral largely rejected the call. Heavy police deployment was reported, with isolated road blockades and tyre burning.
- Balochistan: A province-wide strike disrupted daily life in Quetta, Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Khuzdar, Mastung and Gwadar.
Why it matters
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the strike call failed to resonate with the public, claiming that “for the first time, the wheel jam itself has become jammed”. In a statement on X, he said people had rejected what he described as politics of hatred, chaos and division. Pakistan Peoples Party Secretary General Muhammad Humayun Khan called the strike a complete failure, saying uninterrupted business activity showed people now prioritise stability and economic recovery.
PTI said the protest received a strong nationwide response and congratulated the public and party workers, framing participation as support for restoring what it terms its “stolen mandate”, the release of political prisoners, judicial independence and constitutional supremacy. The strike marked two years since the 8 February 2024 general election, whose results the opposition alleges were rigged.
What is still uncertain
The accounts rest largely on claims by opposing political sides, and no independent count of participation was available. Reports described normalcy in Islamabad and Punjab alongside selective disruption and political mobilisation in parts of Sindh and Balochistan, but the overall scale of the response remains disputed.
Sources & reporting notes
This article is a synthesis of published reporting, not eyewitness coverage. Sources were reviewed on 9 February 2026.
- Geo News — "TTAP's Feb 8 strike call draws largely 'muted response'"9 February 2026 · Reports the muted response to the 8 February 2026 strike, the regional picture, official reactions and the PTI's claims.
