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Intense Protest in Peshawar Over Assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader
Police Use Shelling and Baton Charge as Protesters Attempt to March Towards US and Israeli Consulates
Amjad Hadi Yousafzai
Peshawar: A major protest was held in Peshawar against the brutal assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, in a US- and Israel-led attack. The protest was jointly organized by religious scholars and the Islamic Students Organization (ISO).
A large number of guests, elders, youth, and Sunni scholars from Kohat and Tirah participated in the protest. The protest was led by Allama Abid Hassan Shakri, Allama Syed Jamil Hassan Shirazi, Allama Syed Zafar Naqvi, Allama Nazir Hussain Muthahhari, Allama Syed Arshad Naqvi, Allama Syed Taqi Zaidi, Allama Yawar Abbas Khalili, Allama Muhammad Shoaib, and other scholars.
Protesters raised loud slogans against the United States and Israel. Speakers said that the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei was an act of state terrorism and that the US and Israel are the architects of terrorism worldwide. They emphasized that Ayatollah Khamenei was a powerful barrier against Greater Israel, removed through a deep conspiracy.
The speakers also stated that the courageous people and oppressed nations worldwide stand with Iran, and they are prepared to make further sacrifices but will never bow before Zionist powers. They added that any action plan issued by central leadership will be implemented immediately.
When protesters attempted to march towards the American consulate, police used shelling and baton charges to disperse them.
National
Iran conflict threatens Pakistan’s recovery as oil prices surge.
Costlier oil may strain IMF targets and the current account.
TARIQ KHATTAK
ISLAMABAD
Pakistan Business Network President Omar Butt has warned that an attack on Iran could immediately raise global crude oil prices by up to $20 per barrel, placing severe pressure on developing economies and directly threatening Pakistan’s economic recovery.
In a statement, he said that around 25 to 30 percent of the world’s crude oil supply and nearly 20 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the Strait of Hormuz. If Iran were to completely block this route, oil prices could exceed $100 per barrel, sharply increasing the import bill of oil-dependent countries like Pakistan. In such a scenario, the current account deficit could re-emerge, and the rupee could come under renewed pressure.
Omar Butt noted that Pakistan’s annual oil imports already amount to billions of dollars, and any price increase would fuel inflation, raise transport fares, increase industrial production costs, and undermine export competitiveness.
He added that nearly five million Pakistanis work in Gulf countries, and remittances remain a key pillar of the economy. If regional tensions escalate or employment opportunities are disrupted, the government’s $41 billion remittance target could be jeopardised.
Financial experts believe that fears of war could push global stock markets down by one to two percent, while investors may shift toward safe-haven assets such as the US dollar and gold. Emerging market currencies could face volatility, and foreign portfolio outflows may intensify. If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for an extended period, the global economy could slip into recession, making it even more difficult for Pakistan to meet the fiscal targets under its ongoing $7 billion IMF program.
Butt urged responsible nations to prevent the world from sliding toward a third world war. He stressed that policymakers in Pakistan must prepare contingency plans, including building strategic reserves, diversifying energy supplies, and closely monitoring external sector indicators. Proactive steps, he said, could help cushion shocks and maintain investor confidence during heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
