Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Announces Pen-Down Strike on May 6, Alleges Federal Discrimination

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced a province-wide pen-down strike on May 6, accusing the federal government of discriminatory treatment, further escalating political tensions in the country.
According to a spokesperson for the provincial government, the federation is allegedly depriving KP of its due share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, as well as in electricity and gas supplies. The statement claimed that such actions are deliberately undermining the province’s financial and energy rights.
The spokesperson also alleged that former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are not being provided medical treatment under the supervision of their personal physicians, raising concerns from a human rights perspective.
The provincial government stated that the pen-down strike will be observed across government offices in support of these demands, leading to a suspension of official work.
Political analysts say the development reflects growing friction between the federal and provincial governments, while a response from federal authorities is still awaited.