Peshawar, May 8, 2026 — The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K‑P) provincial government ordered a province‑wide pen‑down strike on Friday, suspending all non‑essential official work in a rare and public challenge to the federal government.
Directed by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the action left government offices physically open but saw staff refrain from processing files, signing documents or carrying out routine administrative tasks. Authorities said emergency and essential services were maintained, and the move was intended as a symbolic protest rather than a disruption of public safety.
Provincial officials framed the strike as a response to what they described as discriminatory federal policies. A statement from the Chief Minister’s office accused Islamabad of sidelining K‑P on key financial and administrative issues, including the province’s share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award and the allocation of electricity and natural gas resources.
K‑P leaders said the province has suffered long‑standing fiscal injustice and political marginalisation, and the pen‑down was meant to draw attention to those grievances. Chief Minister Afridi described the measure as a “symbolic revolt of the pen” against perceived federal overreach.
The protest also highlighted concerns about the detention conditions of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. Provincial officials alleged the couple has been denied adequate legal access, family visits and consultations with personal medical practitioners, calling the restrictions unlawful and inhumane.
Political observers said the strike represents a sharp escalation in tensions between the provincial administration and the federal government. As of the latest reports, federal authorities had not issued a formal response to the K‑P action.
