KPK: Partial strike on call of opposition parties' alliance, protesters forcefully close shops

PESHAWAR (92 News) - A partial strike was observed in various cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday on a call given by a three-party alliance of opposition parties against alleged rigging in the local bodies' election. The opposition parties' alliance comprising Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) decided to go ahead with the strike call after its first round of talks with PTI-led KPK government failed. They demanded the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to quit for alleged rigging in the local government elections. Members of the JUI-F were seen forcing shopkeepers and wielding sticks ordering to shut down shops in the Peshawar's famous Qissa Khani Bazar. ANP General Seceretary, however, claimed that the protests were peaceful. The PTI-led provincial government held a multi-party conference yesterday and set up a committee to negotiate with the opposition alliance. However, the opposition parties refused to call back its strike schedule for today.