The recent protests and sit-ins by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have severely affected the provincial governance and public life.
As per the latest situation the province is almost cut off from the rest of the country.
The nationwide protests launched by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in favor of the health of its founding chairman Imran Khan and provision of medical facilities in prison have created a serious administrative and public crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The continuous sit-ins that have been going on for the past three days have not only paralysed the internal system of the province but have also turned daily life into a nightmare for ordinary citizens.
PTI workers have blocked all the important entry and exit routes of the province:
Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway and Hazara Motorway (Abbottabad-Havelian) are completely closed at Swabi Interchange.
Land connectivity between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab is cut due to the sit-in at Khairabad Bridge (Attock).
Thousands of passengers, including women and children, are stranded on the highways, where shortage of food items and severe cold have added to their difficulties.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and opposition parties have sharply criticized the provincial government, alleging that the government is only promoting “sit-in politics” instead of solving public problems.
Provincial ministers (including Education Minister Meena Khan and Relief Minister Aqibullah) are themselves present in protest camps, due to which the functioning of government offices is being affected.
The financial and administrative situation of educational institutions in Peshawar and other districts was already deteriorating, now continuous protests and strikes have put the academic year at stake.
No new major development project could be started in the province as all attention and resources have been diverted towards protest campaigns.
The Border Chamber of Commerce and various business organizations have rejected PTI’s call for a “wheel jam and shutter down” strike. Traders say:
Pakhtunkhwa is already in the worst crisis. The daily strikes have forced the working class to starve. We cannot close businesses any longer.”
Incidents of political clashes have also been reported during the protests.
The PTI is of the view that the sit-ins will continue until Imran Khan is allowed to seek treatment from doctors of his choice and be shifted to a hospital. On the other hand, ordinary citizens and the opposition are calling this situation a disaster for the province.
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