The Daily Inside

01/12/2026

01/11/2026

Bagh-e-Jinnah turned into a sea of supporters as thousands gathered to welcome CM Sohail Afridi.

01/11/2026

Iran is on fire right now. Mass protests have erupted across the country since late December 2025 as people finally snapped under a collapsing economy, insane inflation, unemployment and a currency in freefall, much of it worsened by Western sanctions and restrictions. What began as anger over basic survival has now exploded into a full nationwide revolt against the Islamic Republic. Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad, every major city is on the streets. And the government responded exactly how a dictatorship does, by shutting down the entire internet, blocking phone networks and unleashing security forces with live ammunition. Dozens, maybe hundreds, are dead, thousands are arrested, and the world is watching Iran enter one of its most volatile moments in decades.

But here is the part everyone conveniently ignores. This regime did not appear out of thin air. Its roots trace back to 1953, when the CIA and MI6 toppled Iran’s democratic leader in Operation Ajax and installed the Shah as their puppet. That trauma created the anger and humiliation that eventually produced the current system. So yes, criticize the regime, it fully deserves it, but pretending that America or Israel swooping in will save Iran is delusional. Foreign meddling is exactly what created this mess in the first place. It is not hard to hold two thoughts at once. Iranians deserve freedom, dignity and protection from state violence. The US and Israeli governments have harmed Iranians for decades and do not have their best interests at heart.

And please, spare us the fantasy that Reza Pahlavi is some hero in waiting. Iranians do not want another Western installed puppet, especially one openly promoted by US and Israeli circles. That is not liberation, that is colonisation with better PR. The people protesting right now are risking their lives because they want to choose their own future. No mullah dictatorship, no monarchy 2.0, and definitely no foreign engineered replacement.

The West needs to step back and let Iranians decide their own next chapter, not repeat the same cycle that destroyed their democracy 70 years ago.

01/10/2026

Tensions between the United States and Denmark have flared again after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his push to acquire Greenland, a huge Arctic territory that’s officially part of Denmark but has wide autonomy. Trump has even hinted that military force could be used if necessary to secure the island, which he says is vital for U.S. national security. Denmark, Greenland’s government, and other European allies have strongly rejected the idea, saying Greenland is not for sale and belongs to its people. 

Denmark’s long-standing defence rules dating back to 1952 mean that its forces are expected to respond immediately if the territory is attacked, even without waiting for orders, reminding the world that Greenland would fight back if invaded. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any U.S. military attempt to take control could effectively end the NATO alliance, since attacking another NATO country would break the core principle of mutual defence. 

European leaders, including those from France, Germany, Italy, and the U.K., have backed Denmark’s stance and stressed that Greenland’s future should be decided by its own people and Denmark, not forced by outside pressure. While U.S. officials continue to say dialogue and diplomacy are preferred, Trump’s comments have rattled Europe and raised serious questions about how allied countries will respond if territorial ambitions override international norms. 

01/09/2026

A large number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) supporters gathered in Lyari to welcome Chief Minister Afridi.

01/09/2026

A video circulating on social media shows Pak Army soldiers raising slogans in support of Imran Khan while riding in a military truck in Karachi, drawing widespread attention online.

The incident reportedly took place as supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gathered in the city to welcome Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

The slogans echoed sentiments expressed by party workers present at the gathering, adding to the charged political atmosphere surrounding the visit.

01/09/2026

A late-night police raid in Lahore has left PTI worker Rashid Yousaf dead after he suffered a heart attack when officers stormed his home looking for a political supporter. His family says the shock and panic of the sudden raid caused his collapse. He was rushed to Jinnah Hospital but did not survive.

This isn’t an isolated case — it has become the standard response to anyone who disagrees with the regime or simply exercises their democratic right to exist as an opposition. Whether it’s holding a jalsa, raising a voice, or even being loosely associated with PTI, the punishment is the same: raids, harassment, arrests, and in some cases, death. In Punjab today, dissent is treated like a crime, and democracy is treated like a threat.

Under Maryam Nawaz, the province is increasingly mirroring the authoritarian style once perfected by her political and spiritually forefather, Zia-ul-Haq. A “hard state” where force is the first tool, fear is the second, and the law comes last, if at all.

But perhaps the most disturbing part is the deafening silence. The media, the so-called liberal voices, the self-proclaimed human rights defenders all quiet. Their silence exposes what many already suspected: they never stood with the people; they stood with power. Their selective outrage now reveals how deeply they were always aligned with the authorities they pretended to critique.

This is what a fascist, autocratic state looks like: no restraint, no accountability, no space for opposition. If this is how Punjab is being run today, one can only wonder how much darker the road ahead becomes and who will be left to speak when everyone else is forced into silence.

01/08/2026

A new government survey shows that Pakistani households now spend nearly 63% of their income on food and housing, highlighting the growing cost-of-living pressure.

According to the Household Integrated Economic Survey 2024–25, rising inflation, currency depreciation and IMF-related policy measures have pushed expenses to grow faster than incomes.

Food alone accounts for 37% of spending, while housing, electricity and gas make up 26%. With limited income left, education spending has fallen to just 2.5%.

The survey also notes increased reliance on foreign remittances and financial assistance, especially among middle- and lower-income families facing shrinking purchasing power.

01/07/2026

When Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia performed together again, every note brought back a lifetime of memories—a treat for all Strings fans!