  The present B -> pi K data is studied in the context of the standard model
(SM) and with new physics (NP). We confirm that the SM has difficulties
explaining the B -> pi K measurements. By adopting an effective-lagrangian
parametrization of NP effects, we are able to rule out several classes of NP.
Our model-independent analysis shows that the B -> pi K data can be
accommodated by NP in the electroweak penguin sector.
