cross-posted from: https://news.abolish.capital/post/26301

Thousands of people took to the streets in different parts of Pakistan on Sunday, February 8, in response to a call to observe a national day of strike made by Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (Movement to Protect the Constitution of Pakistan or TTAP). 

Workers put on black badges, and businesses and transportation was shut down at hundreds of places across the country. Thousands marched in torchlight processions organized in all major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta among others, in the evening, shouting slogans against the government’s authoritarian approach.

In several places, protesters were stopped by the police and security forces, with TTAP claiming hundreds of its workers and leaders were detained in attempts to stop the protests. Security forces also allegedly forced businesses to stay open and not to participate in the strike in some areas.

Ammar Ali Jan, leader of the left-wing Haqooq-e-Khalq Party (HKP), claimed that one of the main organizers from his party, Ammar Rashid, was arrested by the police when he was participating in one such mobilization in the capital Islamabad.

The HKP is part of the TTAP, which is a coalition of several political formations and is headed by Pakistan Tehreek-Insaaf (PTI), Pakistan’s main opposition party.

Ali Jan, who has called February 8 a “dark stain on Pakistan’s history as the will of the people was subverted in broad daylight by a gangster state” termed the arrest of Rashid “another cowardly act by an illegitimate government.”

Rashid was released later on Monday.

The strike and protests were called on the occasion of the second anniversary of the 2024 national elections, which TTAP constituents claim were rigged to deprive jailed former prime minister and leader of the PTI, Imran Khan, of his popular mandate.

Protesters also demanded the withdrawal of all “false cases” against Khan and his immediate release from prison. Other major demands included the release of all political prisoners, ending the assaults on democratic freedoms in the country, and ending corruption.

Talking about the objective behind the strike call, leaders of the TTAP claimed that it is rather a start of a long movement warning the Pakistani government to not see February 8 as a one day event, Dawn quoted.

February 8 marks the anniversary of the 2024 Pakistani general elections which were held two years after the removal of Imran Khan, of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), from the office of prime minister in a vote of no confidence. The 2024 elections were marred with irregularities, seemingly aimed at preventing the victory of the PTI and Imran Khan who was already in prison. In the lead up to the elections, authorities arrested other key PTI leaders and candidates and the party’s candidates were forced to run as independents. Yet, the PTI-independents still emerged with the second highest number of seats, with many critics alleging that even more were stolen.

Read more: PTI-backed candidates emerge as largest bloc but uncertainty over government formation continues

Pakistan must withdraw from Gaza Board of Peace

Protesters also emphasized their solidarity with the Palestinian people and demanded the country’s immediate withdrawal from the so-called Board of Peace, constituted by US President Donald Trump to “resolve” the Palestinian conflict.

Though Pakistan has officially supported the Palestinian cause and termed the Israeli war in Gaza a genocide, its government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, became one of the first to join the Board of Peace. 

It is widely perceived that the Board of Peace is an attempt by the Trump administration to bypass multilateral institutions such as the UN. The presence of Israel on the board, where there is no Palestinian representation, has also created doubts about the legitimacy of the exercise.

Ali Jan, during a convention on Gaza organized in the run up of the strike last week, claimed that the people of Pakistan will never compromise on the issue of Pakistan. He noted the government’s failure to publicly acknowledge its participation in the Board of Peace as a sign of broad national consensus against the move.

He warned that the US is an empire in decline and questioned the wisdom of the country’s ruling classes to openly align with it, defying popular consent in the country. 

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