Pakistanis stranded in Iran continue to return home in a series of repatriation efforts, with 142 individuals arriving in Quetta via the Tiftan route. The majority of those returning are students who were stranded in Iran due to recent developments. This is the second large-scale repatriation effort in the past few days, following a similar operation that brought 100 Pakistani citizens back to the country last week.
Meanwhile, women in Islamabad who were preparing to participate in the Women’s March were detained by police. In Karachi, Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced that the city’s administration plans to complete the construction of a major flyover in the Azam Pora area within the next 100 days. Salmam Akram Raja, a leader of the PTI, criticized the government, saying that Pakistani women have made the greatest sacrifices for the party, but are being targeted and subjected to harassment.
The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that four people have been killed in Iranian attacks, including a Pakistani, a Nepali, and a Bangladeshi national. Mian Qasim, Chairman of MQM Pakistan, stated that those who have understood politics as a means to an end should leave the field. Former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said that the government has favored oil companies over the public.
In other news, Sindh Chief Minister Saeed Ghani met with federal ministers Ali Haider Zaidi and Shahbaz Gill to discuss the ongoing crisis. The meeting focused on the rising cost of oil and the need to provide relief to the public.
Pakistan’s oil prices are among the highest in the region, with the government continuing to ignore public demands for a reduction in fuel prices. In a related development, the Sindh government has announced plans to impose a tax on vehicle registration and token tax, effective immediately.
In a major crackdown on organized crime, four suspects were arrested in Islamabad. Despite the ongoing challenges on the Afghan border, counter-terrorism operations continue in the country. A heatwave is expected in Quetta in the next 24 hours.
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Abbas Bagheri, stated that Iran has not initiated a war, but rather taken retaliatory measures against enemy targets, including US military bases and installations. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed a desire to avoid involvement in any conflict or tension.
In related news, Israel has seen over 1900 people injured in attacks since Iran launched its military campaign. The UAE has also warned its citizens in Dubai to avoid sharing inflammatory content on social media.
Former cricketer Shahid Afridi criticized the government, saying that it has failed to reduce its expenditure, and that the public is bearing the brunt of the costs.
