ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari commended the security forces for thwarting terrorists’ infiltration attempt along the Pak-Afghan border in the Dir district.

In a statement issued from the President House,  President Zardari hailed security forces for the swift response against the terrorists on the Pak-Afghan border.

The president also emphasized the nation’s unity with the security forces in ensuring national defense, peace, and security.

Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also lauded the security forces for their prompt action in thwarting a terrorist infiltration attempt on the Pakistan-Afghan border.

The minister praised the security forces for their bravery and vigilance in defending the nation and maintaining peace.

Mohsin Naqvi commended the security forces for their timely action, which resulted in the elimination of three terrorists.

“The security forces, known for their bravery and vigilance, took swift action to thwart the nefarious intentions of the terrorists,” the interior minister added.

Mohsin Naqvi expressed his appreciation for the great services of the brave soldiers of the border guards, who are standing with the security forces in maintaining peace and fighting against terrorism.

Earlier on Monday, the security successfully thwarted an infiltration attempt on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and eliminated three terrorists

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, on night 21-22 July 2024, the movement of three terrorists, trying to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was detected by security forces in Dir District.

The infiltrators were surrounded, and effectively engaged and after an intense fire exchange, all three terrorists were eliminated.

ISLAMABAD: Former Federal Minister on Monday shared his perspective over arson and riots at the Corps Commander House on May 9, stating that when the mob decided to go at the Corps Commander’s House, he went back home, ARY News reported.

During an appearance on ARY News program ‘Off the Record’, the Former Federal Minister – Shafqat Mehmood – recounted the events of May 9, explaining that after the arrest of the PTI founder, he joined the protestors at Liberty Chowk.

“When the angry mob asked me to join the protestors outside the Corps Commander’s House, I returned home because I knew that this was not the right way,” he said.

He emphasized that aggressive voices are often more influential within PTI. “There were two different thoughts in the party,” he explained.

“One thought was to engage in opposition, believing the people were with us, while the other was more aggressive, advocating for a front-foot approach.”

Mehmood reflected on the party’s internal politics, stating, “70 percent of politics takes place inside the party and 30 percent outside. The party dynamics have changed, and those who left after May 9 had no idea what would happen to them.”

He also discussed his personal decision to leave politics, despite his respect for the PTI founder. “I wanted to leave politics for a long time and focus on some other work,” he said.

Addressing the dissolution of assemblies, Mehmood remarked, “The thought behind dissolving the assemblies was that elections would be held again. However, the whole world saw that the constitution was not obeyed, and elections were not held within 90 days.”

WASHINGTON: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told CNN on Sunday that he thinks Vice President Kamala Harris will be easier to defeat in November’s election than Democratic President Joe Biden who stepped aside as his party’s candidate.

A CNN reporter said on X that Donald Trump made the comments to the network shortly after Biden announced his decision.

President Joe Biden announced on Sunday he was ending his campaign for reelection, while staying on as president for the remainder of his term. In a separate post on X, formerly Twitter, he endorsed Harris.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden wrote. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala Harris to be the nominee of our party this year.”

Joe Biden’s decision comes after weeks of pressure from Democratic lawmakers and donors who feared he lacked the mental and physical stamina to win and serve four more years.

The Democratic party will be taking a historic gamble if it now turns to Vice President Kamala Harris to become its presidential candidate, betting that a Black woman can overcome racism, sexism and her own missteps as a politician to defeat Republican Donald Trump.

In more than two centuries of democracy, American voters have elected only one Black president and never a woman, a record that makes even some Black voters wonder if Harris can crash through the hardest ceiling in US politics.

Who is Kamala Harris?

Harris, 59, is two decades younger than Trump and a leader in the party on abortion rights, an issue which resonates with younger voters and Democrats’ progressive base.

In 2021 she made history, becoming the first woman and first black and South Asian American to serve as US vice president.

The United States has never elected a woman president, and Harris has spent much of her time as vice president struggling to distinguish herself in a role that is by definition a supporting one.

Kamala Harris began work in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and became the district attorney – the top prosecutor – for San Francisco in 2003, before being elected the first woman and the first black person to serve as California’s attorney general, the top lawyer and law enforcement official in America’s most populous state.

Born in Oakland, California, to two immigrant parents – an Indian-born mother and Jamaican-born father – her parents divorced when she was five and she was primarily raised by her Hindu single mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a cancer researcher and civil rights activist.

She had her sights set on becoming the first woman US president when she competed against Biden and others for their party’s 2020 nomination. Harris dropped out of the race after a campaign hurt by her wavering views on healthcare.

Her biracial roots and upbringing help her engage with many American identities.

She grew up engaged with her Indian heritage, joining her mother on visits to India, but Harris has said that her mother adopted Oakland’s black culture, immersing Kamala and her younger sister Maya – within it.

“My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters,” she wrote in her autobiography The Truths We Hold. “She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as black girls and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud black women.”

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday rejected Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statement on dissolving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assembly and resigning from other legislatures, ARY News reported.

In a statement, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar expressed ignorance about the statement and clarified that PTI has not discussed dissolving the assembly or resignations. He stated that there was no consultation or decision with Fazlur Rehman in this regard.

Sources within PTI revealed that the party has agreed with Maulana Fazlur Rehman on holding new elections, and both parties are in consensus that fresh elections should be held in the country.

Earlier in the day, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman claimed that the PTI is ready to dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and resigning from other legislatures which would pave the way for fresh ‘transparent’ elections.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman proposed that the provincial assemblies be dissolved to pave the way for new elections. He also suggested that parliamentary and local body elections be held simultaneously.

Read More: JUI-F wants PTI to be ‘serious’ for result-oriented talks

Fazl said that the JUI-F formed a committee to hold talks with PTI to devise the strategy. He said that the committee will be led by Kamran Murtaza and includes Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Fazl Ghaffar, Aslam Ghori, and Maulana Amjad.

The JUI-F said that fabricated cases should not made against any political leader including PTI founder Imran Khan.

“The establishment should change its policy or else the country will not run. The martial’s law or emergency will no longer work in the country,” he added.

KARACHI: A 6-year-old Karachi girl on Saturday recovered from drain after being torture and attempted to rape by the man residing in her neighbourhood of Quaidabad, ARY News reported.

The accused, Javed, allegedly attempted to rape her and subjected her to torture before throwing her to nearby drain.

According to SSP Malir, Kashif Abbasi, the neighbor threw the girl into a drain after threatening her, while the girl was rescued from the drain, and is now in stable condition.

During a press conference, SSP Kashif Aftab revealed that the accused had held the girl hostage to rape her.

The police swiftly took action against the accused and arrested Javed, meanwhile after registering a case against the accused an investigation in the case will be launched.

A leaked call between the leader of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Noor Wali and his associate revealed the plans to carry out terrorist attacks on schools, hospitals, and security forces, ARY News reported. 

The TTP leader, Noor Wali, can be heard directing his associate to target government schools and hospitals with explosives and not to claim responsibility for the attacks.

He also directed his sub-ordinate to attack the homes of police and military personnel, and to target schools and hospitals in order to create fear and chaos.

Noor Wali can be heard saying that on the call to blow up the houses of the police and army personnel who are on duty.

Read More: No plans to enter into any talks with TTP: FO

Earlier on July 11, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday said that it has no plans to enter into any talks with the banned TTP.

At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the terrorist entity is involved in the killing of Pakistani and foreign citizens inside the country.

She said that Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “We expect the Afghan authorities to uphold their sovereignty and take action against terrorist groups which have found sanctuaries inside Afghanistan and using their territory for terrorist attacks against Pakistan,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch added.

KARACHI: Senator Faisal Vawda has warned that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is heading towards political turmoil, comparing its trajectory to that of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), ARY News reported on Thursday.

Speaking on the ARY News program, Faisal Vawda emphasized that PTI will face significant challenges, hinting at approach political turmoil.

“No anarchist party can operate in Pakistan. Just as MQM becomes MQM-P, PTI will also need to transform into PTI-P,” Vawda stated.

He criticized PTI’s current political strategy, suggesting that recent actions and slogans stem from confidence gained from court decisions. Vawda believes these actions have pushed PTI beyond constitutional limits, leading to a shaky position.

“After the court order, PTI has gone 10 times ahead raising slogans against institutions, now they should be ready for the bulldozer,” Vawda said.

Vawda further predicted that PTI’s founder is unlikely to release from the jail, suggesting that internal calculations and government strategies will determine PTI’s future.

He asserted that the Pakistan Democratic Movement II (PDM-2) has the intelligence to topple the government if needed.

The senator also accused the government of creating confusion and presenting an image of conflict with PTI and the institutions.

He anticipated that the political climate will heat up, predicting that the government may not adhere to the Supreme Court’s decisions, further complicating the situation.

SWAT: An earthquake with a magnitude of 5 jolted different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Thursday, ARY News reported.

According to the seismological center, the tremors were felt in Swat, Malakand, Manshera, Buner and surrounding areas.

The seismological center said that the earthquake’s magnitude was recorded at 5 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter in the Hindu Kush region, at a depth of 211 kilometers.

Fortunately, there have been no reports of notable damage or casualties.

Read More: Magnitude 4.8 earthquake jolts Swat, adjoining areas

Earlier on July 15, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5 jolted Zhob and its adjoining areas in Balochistan province.

According to the seismological center, the epicenter of the earthquake was 106 kilometers in south from Zhob.

People came out of their houses in fear by reciting Kalma-e-Tayyaba. However, no loss of life or damage to property was reported from any part of Khuzdar so far.

KARACHI: In a major development, the security delegation from Transport Canada on Wednesday completed the security audit of Jinnah International Airport, ARY News reported.

According to Airports Security Force (ASF), the team conducted thorough inspection of the security arrangements in place at the airport and found them satisfactory.

During the audit, the ASF team comprising National Inspectors gave a briefing to the Transport Canada team.

The assessment team was given briefing on security deployment, entry control, screening, issuance of passes and addressing emergency situations.

The Transport Canada team commended the efforts of the ASF for taking additional measures to ensure the safety of the Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) direct flights to Canada.

The team also termed the overall aviation security measures satisfactory at the international airports of Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention that the two-member delegation from Transport Canada arrived in Pakistan on July 15 for the security audit of the Jinnah International Airport.

The delegation, composed of Transportation Security Inspectors Barbara Dudrat and Abdul Tahir was warmly welcomed by Director PCA Shahid Qadir at the Civil Aviation headquarters.

The delegation’s aim was to assess the implementation of various security protocols at the airport.

This assessment included reviewing the procedures and special security measures in place for direct flights from Pakistan to Canada, specifically focusing on PIA flights.

Activision has revealed the date of opening Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta version for players ahead of its release in October.

The early access to Black Ops 6 open beta will begin in the last week of August, starting August 30 to September 4, according to gaming website GAMINGBIBLE.

However, you will either have to had pre-ordered Black Ops 6 to be able to take part in the beta on PlayStation, PC and Xbox or you will have to be an active Game Pass subscriber.

Activision will run the second open beta from September 6 to September 9 and will be completely free to take part regardless of players’ platform of choice.

The first teaser trailer for Activision’s highly-anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was released in May this year.

The trailer showed what looked to be an espionage mission at night to vandalise Mt Rushmore in the United States with the phrase “The Truth Lies,” which is also the name of the website that uploaded the teaser trailer.

Later in June, Xbox Games announced the official release date for the Black Ops 6.

Xbox chief Phil Spencer on Sunday unveiled the first gameplay footage from the upcoming Call of Duty game which will be released on October 25, a gaming website reported.

Reports said that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is not coming only on Xbox Series, PS5, and PC, but will also be released on PS4 and Xbox One.

After Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, the upcoming Call of Duty game will be available on Xbox Game Pass from the start.

KARACHI: An illegal water hydrant was uncovered in Karachi, where two individuals were accused of stealing water, depriving the citizens of Baldia Town of their access to clean water, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

Following the report published on ARY News, a case has been registered over the complaint of Assistant Executive Engineer of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board at Mochko Police station.

As per the report, the two individuals – named Mushtaq and Amir – accused of breaking the 33-inch official water line near Northern Bypass and created a 2-inch hole to steal water.

The FIR report indicated that the collected water was being sold through water tankers, further worsening the ongoing water crisis in Baldia Town area of Karachi.

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) identified more officials of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) allegedly involved in issuance of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to Afghan nationals, ARY News reported.

The FIA’s investigation has reached its final stages, and responsible officials have been identified. It was revealed that Afghan citizens were issued Pakistani ID cards in exchange for bribes, with the help of Pakistani families, the sources said.

The investigation was initiated after the arrest of an Afghan national, Majidullah, who attempted to obtain a Pakistani passport.

The investigation revealed that Majidullah bribed and pretended himself a member of the family to obtain an ID card. The FIA already recorded statements from relevant NADRA officials and is set to take action against the accused persons.

The sources said that more arrests are expected to be made soon as the investigation progresses.

Read More: Fake passports: Pakistan initiates legal action against afghan nationals

Earlier, the Ministry of Interior directed to initiate the legal proceedings against the Afghan nationals who were caught in Saudi Arabia for possessing fake Pakistani passports and identity cards

According to the FIA sources, in light of Ministry of Interior directives, the relevant authorities decided to issue the notice under section 18 of the NADRA ordinance to 12,500 Afghan nationals.

Sources within the FIA revealed that the fake Pakistani identity cards to the 593 Afghan nationals were issued from Islamabad, while a total of 5,500 Pakistani identity cards were issued from Quetta and Peshawar.

ISLAMABAD: The government has announced yet another increase in the prices of petroleum products, further burdening the public amid rising inflation, ARY News reported on Monday.

According to a newly issued notification, the price of petrol has been hiked by Rs 9.99 per litre, bringing the new price to Rs 275.60 per litre.

High-speed diesel has also seen a significant increase, with a rise of Rs 6.18 per litre. The new price for diesel is now set at Rs 283.63 per litre.

Additionally, the price of kerosene has been increased by Rs 0.83 per litre.

This increase in petroleum prices is expected to have a ripple effect on the cost of goods and services, further straining household budgets and economic stability.

LAHORE: The Organized Crime Unit on Sunday got attacked by assailants attempting to free their arrested accomplice in the Defence area of Lahore, ARY News reported.

The police reported that the assailants fired wildly in their bid to free the arrested shooter, but instead, the most dangerous shooter, Wasim Ahmed, was killed by the gunfire from his own accomplices.

As the police counteracted, the assailants managed to escape from the scene. Meanwhile, the police initiated a search operation to apprehend the fleeing attackers.

The DSP revealed that the accused, Wasim Ahmed, had previously shot and martyred Dolphin officer Adnan a few weeks ago.

The Organized Crime Unit was transporting Wasim Ahmed to Defense for recovery operations when the attack occurred.

The police are actively pursuing the culprits and ensuring the safety and security of the area.

KARACHI: The Peoples Bus Service has announced the suspension of its operations on specific routes during 9 and 10 Muharram, ARY News reported on Sunday.

As per the announcement, the operations of Peoples Bus Service will remain suspended across Karachi, while the only route from Malir Halt to Super Highway will continue to operate during these days.

A day earlier, the city’s traffic police issued a traffic management plan for processions on the 8th, 9th and 10th of Muharram.

According to the traffic plan issued, on 8th Muharram, a procession will start from Nishtar Park and end at Hussainian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar.

Muhammad Ali (MA) Jinnah Road will remain closed from Gurumandir to Tower due to security concerns.

The procession will go through Nishtar Park, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto Road, Mehfil-i-Shah-i-Khurasan, MA Jinnah Road (point a), Mansfield Street, Preedy Street, Tibet Chowk, MA Jinnah Road (point b), Baba-e-Urdu, Bara Imam, Nishtar Road, Altaf Hussain Road, Bolton Market, MA Jinnah Road (point c), Nawaz Mahabat Khanjee Road, Bombay Bazar, Kharadar Police Station to Hussainian Iranian Imambargah.

On 9th Muharram (Tuesday), a procession will be taken out from Martin Road Imambargah, Liaquatabad at 9am. It will reach Nishtar Park at 12pm, where a Majlis will be held.

Afterwards, the procession will be taken out from Nishtar Park for Hussainian Iranian Imambargah, Kharadar, via Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto Road, Mehfil-i-Shah-i-Khurasan, MA Jinnah Road (point a), Mansfield Street, Preedy Street, Tibet Chowk, MA Jinnah Road (point b), Bolton Market, Bombay Bazaar, Kharadar, Nawaz Mahabat Khanjee Road and then to Hussainian Iranian Imambargah.

Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a Saturday campaign rally, streaking the Republican presidential candidate’s blood across his face and prompting his security agents to swarm him, before he emerged and pumped his fist in the air, appearing to mouth the words “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

The shooter was dead, one rally attendee was killed and two other spectators were injured, the Secret Service said in a statement. The incident was being investigated as an assassination attempt, a source told Reuters.

Donald Trump, 78, had just started his speech when the shots rang out. He grabbed his right ear with his right hand, then brought his hand down to look at it before dropping to his knees behind the podium before Secret Service agents swarmed and covered him. He emerged about a minute later, his red “Make America Great Again” hat knocked off, and could be heard saying “wait, wait,” before agents ushered him into a vehicle.

“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform following the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles (50 km) north of Pittsburgh. “Much bleeding took place.”

The shooter’s identity and motive were not immediately clear. Leading Republicans and Democrats quickly condemned the violence.

The Donald Trump campaign said he was “doing well.” Bloomberg reported he had been released from the hospital.

The shooting occurred less than four months before the Nov. 5 election, when Trump faces an election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Most opinion polls including those by Reuters/Ipsos show the two locked in a close contest.

Biden said in a statement: “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

Read more: Donald Trump has immunity for official acts, US Supreme Court rules

Biden spoke with Trump following the shooting, a White House official said.
Republican U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas told Fox News his nephew had been wounded at the rally.

The shooting raised immediate questions about security failures by the Secret Service, which provides former presidents including Trump with lifetime protection.

WITNESS ACCOUNT

Ron Moose, a Trump supporter who was at the rally, described the chaos: “I heard about four shots and I saw the crowd go down and then Donald Trump ducked also real quick. Then the Secret Service all jumped and protected him as soon as they could. We are talking within a second they were all protecting him.”

Moose said he then saw a man running and being chased by officers in military uniforms. He said he heard additional shots, but was unsure who fired them. He noted that by then snipers had set up on the roof of a warehouse behind the stage.

The BBC interviewed a man who described himself as an eyewitness, saying he saw a man armed with a rifle crawling up a roof near the event. The person, who the BBC did not identify, said he and the people he was with started pointing at the man, trying to alert security.

The shots appeared to come from outside the area secured by the Secret Service, the agency said. The FBI said it had taken the lead in investigating the attack.

Karachi: A vigilance and monitoring team – transporting mobile phones seized during exam cheating – was robbed at the gate of the Board of Intermediate Education in Karachi, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to the sources, the vigilance and monitoring team of intermediate board had confiscated phones being used for cheating at Islamia College.

As the team approached the interboard gate, armed robbers intercepted them and took the seized mobile phones.

The guards stationed at the gate did not resist the robbers, allowing the theft to occur without confrontation.

The incident has been reported to the police station, and an investigation is currently underway.

The chairman of Karachi Intermediate board asserted that the CCTV footage from the gate has also been provided to the police to assist in their investigation.

BIRMINGHAM: India Champions beat Pakistan Champions by five wickets to lift the World Championship of Legends at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Set to chase 157, India Champions knocked the winning runs with five balls to spare when Irfan Pathan hit Sohail Tanvir for a four. Ambati Rayudu smashed 50 off 30, hitting two sixes and five fours.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann played an anchoring role with a 33-ball 34 while Yusuf Pathan provided final touches with a quickfire 30. Pathan conceded only 16 balls and conceded one four and three sixes. India Champions captain Yuvraj Singh remained unbeaten with a 22-ball 15.

Aamer Yamin bagged two wickets for Pakistan Champions while Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Earlier, Younis Khan’s decision to bat first after winning the coin toss did not bear fruits for the Pakistan Champions as they put a par total on the board.

Pakistan Champions had a shaky start to their innings as their in-form hard-hitting opener Sharjeel Khan (12) fell victim to Anureet Singh in the second over with just 14 runs on the board.

Sohaib Maqsood then joined Kamran Akmal in the middle for a briefly anchoring partnership as the duo could raise 29 runs for the second wicket.

Maqsood, who tried to counterattack the India Champions bowlers fell prey to Vinay Kumar in the fifth over after scoring a quick 21 off 12.

Pakistan Champions then lost two more wickets in quick succession — Kamran Akmal (24) and Younis Khan (7) — and consequently slipped to 79/4 in 11.3 overs.

Shoaib Malik, the leading run-scorer of the World Championship of Legends, took the reigns of Pakistan Champions batting expedition against India Champions and kept the scoreboard ticking with an anchoring knock.

Malik put together brief partnerships with Misbah-ul-Haq (18) and Aamer Yamin (7) before walking back to the dugout on the last delivery of the 18th over.

He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan Champions with a gutsy 41 off 36 deliveries, laced up with three sixes. Later, Sohail Tanvir’s short cameo took Pakistan Champions’ total past the 150-run mark.

The all-rounder made an unbeaten 19 off nine while Shahid Afridi made a run-a-ball four and returned not out.

Anureet Singh was the star with the ball for India Champions while Vinay Kumar, Pawan Negi and Irfan Pathan chipped in with a wicket apiece.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) John Cena, lit up the internet with his dance moves at Anant Ambani’s wedding.

The former WWE champion danced and performed his famous signature move “You Can’t See Me” while dancing as he was donning a turban and blue attire.

Anant, son of Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, is marrying Radhika Merchant.

The grand wedding ceremony is attended by several Hollywood personalities including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Drake, Katy Perry and David Guetta.

In pictures: Red carpet style at the lavish Ambani wedding

In an earlier video, John Cena was seen posing for the pictures as he marked his presence at the star-studded event.

A fan shared a video of Cena performing his well-known “You Can’t See Me” maneuver on social media, which went viral and showed off his excitement and ability to fit in with the joyful mood.

KARACHI: The flour mills continued their nationwide strike on the second against the withholding tax announced in the recent budget 2024-25, ARY News reported.

The Flour mills association called an emergency meeting of flour mill owners in Sindh, including Karachi to discuss their future course of action and decided to continue the strike until the withholding tax is abolished.

Chairman of the Flour Mills Sindh Circle, Chaudhry Amir Abdullah, emphasized that the strike would persist as long as their demand for the abolition of the tax remains unmet.

Abdullah pointed out that two days had passed without any contact from the government or the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to address the issue.