Merchant testified that his Iranian contact mentioned three specific targets: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley. Mike Pompeo was not among the individuals identified in the testimony regarding the plot. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1979643/pakistani-found-guilty-of-iran-linked-plot-to-kill-trump, 08 Mar 2026]
422
Consider the following statements about the case of Asif Raza Merchant:
1. He was arrested in July 2024 while attempting to leave the United States.
2. He claimed during the trial that he was coerced into the plot to protect his family in Tehran.
3. The conviction was based on charges of transnational terrorism and murder-for-hire.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
All three statements are factually accurate based on the court proceedings and the details provided by prosecutors. Merchant was indeed arrested in July 2024, testified to family coercion, and was convicted on the two specified counts. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1979643/pakistani-found-guilty-of-iran-linked-plot-to-kill-trump, 08 Mar 2026]
423
Consider the following statements about the events in Islamabad in March 2026:
1. The district administration had issued a formal No-Objection Certificate (NoC) for the Aurat March rally.
2. Relatives of the detained activists were also taken into custody when they arrived at the police station.
3. The activists claimed that the right to protest is a fundamental right that supersedes the imposition of Section 144.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect because the district administration did not issue an NoC, which was one of the reasons cited for the arrests. Statements 2 and 3 are accurate reflections of the claims made by the activists and the HRCP. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1980248/islamabad-police-release-aurat-march-activists-a-day-after-detention-probe-demanded-into-manhandling-of-detainees, 09 Mar 2026]
424
Consider the following statements about the 2026 protests in India:
1. The protests were exclusively organized by students from Muslim-majority regions.
2. The demonstrators utilized humor and cultural references to challenge the government.
3. The agitation was triggered by concerns over the integrity of the education system.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect because the protests involved a diverse social mix, including urban Hindu middle classes. Statements 2 and 3 are correct as the protests were characterized by humor and were driven by grievances regarding the education system. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018933/well-begun-is-half-done, 28 Jul 2026]
425
The Cockroach Janta Party movement emerged as a satirical response to remarks made by which official?
The movement was a response to Chief Justice Surya Kant, who reportedly likened young people to cockroaches and parasites during a court hearing. The movement adopted this label to highlight their grievances. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018741/indias-cockroach-janta-party-demands-release-of-protesters-after-reports-of-detention, 27 Jul 2026]
426
Which group is noted for having successfully campaigned outside Delhi for a year to win the annulment of three laws?
The Sikh farmers' movement is cited as a precedent for successful agitation, having campaigned for a year to force the government to repeal three controversial agricultural laws. This movement is contrasted with the current student-led protests. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018933/well-begun-is-half-done, 28 Jul 2026]
427
Which of the following statements regarding the 2026 student protests is INCORRECT?
The protests were not limited to southern states; they were widespread, involving the northern Hindi-speaking belt, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Manipur. Therefore, stating they were limited to the south is factually incorrect. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018933/well-begun-is-half-done, 28 Jul 2026]
428
Consider the following statements about the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement:
1. The movement was launched in May 2026.
2. The movement initially focused exclusively on unemployment issues.
3. The movement organized protests in New Delhi near the Jantar Mantar site.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct as the movement began in May 2026. Statement 2 is incorrect because the movement initially focused on exam paper leaks and judicial remarks, only later broadening its agenda to include unemployment. Statement 3 is correct as Jantar Mantar was the site of the march toward parliament. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018741/indias-cockroach-janta-party-demands-release-of-protesters-after-reports-of-detention, 27 Jul 2026]
429
The primary site of the 2026 protests mentioned in the context of Indian democratic expression is:
Jantar Mantar is identified as the central location where the student protests took place. The other locations are historical landmarks in Delhi but were not the focal point of this specific agitation. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018933/well-begun-is-half-done, 28 Jul 2026]
430
Consider the following statements about the security situation in AJK as of 2026:
1. The federal government has pledged full support to the AJK administration to maintain law and order.
2. The government reported that security personnel were martyred during the unrest.
3. The protesters successfully prevented the voting process from taking place in Mirpur.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statements 1 and 2 are correct as the federal government confirmed support and the martyrdom of security personnel. Statement 3 is incorrect because the government noted that despite the unrest, the public came out to vote and turnout increased at polling stations. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2019021/significant-number-of-fitna-al-khawarij-terrorists-present-among-ajk-protesters-information-secretary, 28 Jul 2026]
