Pakistan has issued an alert for its citizens in Saudi Arabia, advising them to remain calm and follow Saudi government instructions. The Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh has stated that its citizens should avoid posting content on social media that contradicts or challenges Saudi laws. The embassy has also announced that it has deployed 24-hour active teams at airports and the embassy, and that citizens can contact the embassy or consulate in Jeddah in case of an emergency.
The Pakistani Embassy has also activated its helpline numbers for the Riyadh embassy and Jeddah consulate for emergencies. Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), has visited the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad.
In a separate development, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, has stated that the Israeli attack on Iran was an attempt to divert international attention away from the Gaza crisis. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned a meeting of parliamentary leaders to discuss the global situation.
PTI Chairman, Barrister Gohar, has said that the Prime Minister has not decided to leave the country, and that God willing, the PTI founder will be released from jail before Eid. He has expressed concerns that the region will witness more unrest in the coming days.
The PTI leader has also emphasized that the country’s problems need to be solved with a broader economic program, rather than being politicized. According to the government, 188 check posts of the Afghan Taliban regime have been destroyed, and 31 have been taken over.
In a related development, the Pakistan Army has taken control of an Afghan Taliban post in Paktika, hoisting the Pakistani flag. The security forces have reportedly killed several militants in a successful counterattack.
The military has expressed a willingness to meet with PTI founder Imran Khan, but has prioritized his treatment. In a related development, Imran Khan’s sisters have stated that all parliamentary leaders will be invited to the meeting.
Meanwhile, a report has circulated on social media that Pakistan has closed its airspace to commercial flights, but this has been denied by officials. A domestic worker has also been arrested for stealing valuables worth 80 million rupees from a home in Lahore.
In another incident, a person who was injured during a protest outside the American consulate in Karachi has succumbed to his injuries. The Met Office has forecast clear skies and hot weather for the coming week.
The protest was held in line with the instructions of the Sindh Higher Education Commission. According to Iranian sources, Majid bin Raeis took over as defense minister two days after the martyrdom of former Defense Minister Amir Nasiruddin Zada.
The United Arab Emirates has announced that it will not allow its airspace to be used for any attack on Iran. Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Indian opposition party Congress, has criticized the Indian government for ignoring its long-standing ally, Iran.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry has stated that Iran did not inform Qatar about the missile attacks before they took place. Russia has warned that the conflict in Iran could lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
The UAE has stated that it will not tolerate any violations of its sovereignty or territorial integrity.
