ISLAMABAD: TheJamaat-e-Islami(JI) Naib, Emir Liaqat Baloch announced that the religio-political party would hold ashutter-down strikeacross the country on August 28 to mount pressure on thegovernmentto provide relief to the masses, Geo News reported.Baloch, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Monday, said that the trader community made a unanimous decision to observe a nationwide strike against inflation, high electricity prices and imposition of hefty taxes.He warned that any attempt by the government to stop the strike would push the country into anarchy.The politico reminded that his party staged a 14-day protest in Rawalpindi and held negotiations with the federal government. The ministers had signed an agreement after accepting the JI's demands for providing relief to the inflation-hit nation earlier this month, as reported by Geo News.Baloch added that a one-month deadline was set to review the contracts with independent power producers (IPPs) in the agreement. He further demanded thePakistangovernment to implement the agreement.Baloch also hinted at starting a long march to Islamabad if needed. He added that his party had just postponed the sit-in after signing an agreement with the government, however, they would continue their struggle to get relief for the nation.Before announcing the strike, JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman announced another protest two weeks ago, saying that his party would give a call for peaceful protest by joining hands with trader groups.Notably, the announcement of protests came after the party postponed its 14-day long sit-in on August 9 following successful negotiations with the government over demands including slashing high power tariffs and reviewing agreements with the IPPs which have been under the spotlight as people are paying hefty bills blamed on capacity payments being made to independent power producers, Geo News reported.

Commenting on the arrest of Telegram ownerPavel Durov,RFK JrMonday said Europe does not have free speech. Drawing a parallel to X owner Elon Musk -- who also endorsed Donald Trump in the coming election like RFK Jr -- Kennedy said Elon Musk should have been the hero of the Democratic Party, of the old Democratic Party. "Somehow he became the villain because he was actually the only platform that would allow free speech.He's now become a villain because the Democratic Party does not believe in the people," Kennedy said in an interview with Tucker Carlson. Pavel was arrested in France on allegations of drug trafficking and sexual abuse of children.Elon Musk expressed his disapproval of the arrest of Pavel Durov and agreed with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy when Vivek opined that if it's Telegram today, it will be X tomorrow.In the Tucker Carlson interview, Kennedy Jr revealed that Trump asked him to join his presidential transition team and that he is looking forward to that. Amid much of Kennedy family drama over Kennedy Jr's unexpected support to Trump, Kennedy Jr maintained that his family is welcome to disagree with them.Kennedy Jr said as he met Trump before suspending his independent campaign, he also approached Kamala Harris but Harris refused to meet him. "I reached out to her and to a number of people who are very close to her," RFK Jr said adding that the impression he got was that Kamala Harris won't meet him but a meeting with some low-level party official could have been arranged. Kennedy said he was not interested in that."Why wouldn't Kamala Harris meet with you?" Carlson asked. "Maybe the same reason, she hasn't given an interview. I guess there are many handlers involved," Kennedy Jr said adding that Democrats do not elect a person but the apparatus -- the people around her.