SOURCE: Ausaf, Ummat, Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Urdu Point, Daily Jinnah, Awami Awaz, Daily Dharti, Jasarat, Kawish, Daily Intekhab, Daily Times, Jang, Ibrat, Khabrain, Roznama Dunya, Hizb Media, Al Qalam Weekly, Baad-e-Shimal, Bang-e-Sahar.
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1.12 Pakistanis and seven others have been arrested in the wake of suicide attacks in Medina and Qatif in Saudi Arabia last week. (Daily Pak)
POLITICAL SCENE
1. Opposition PPP leader Khurshid Shah has criticised that Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah is like dirt in the face of politics as he has created ruckus in the country. He added that PM Sharif should present himself for an accountability test as he cannot evade the issues raised by Panama Papers. (Daily Pak)
2. PTI Chief Imran Khan said the movement against corruption would not stop until PM Sharif is made accountable. A strategy will be announced on 20th of July. (Daily Pak)
3. Sahib Khan Bhatti has dealt with the ‘growing chasm between PPP and PML (N)’. Though the Panama leaks issue has mostly died down in other parts of the world, it has refused to fade out in Pakistan. While people abroad are serious about making their leaders accountable, people in Pakistan are watching this as a big ‘tamasha’. In some places, the Panama issue resulted in the resignation of rulers. Though the PPP and PTI have still not decided on joint agitations, one thing is clear; both seem to be bent on holding agitations in their own way. Yet, it remains to be seen if they come closer after Eid as Sheikh Rashid is seriously trying to bring Bilawal and Imran together. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the PM has made up his mind to fight a legal battle against the cases filed against him with the Election Commission and will personally submit before Election Commission. Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif makes fiery speeches saying those seeking accountability of the PM should first account for their own deeds. Shahbaz says those who have looted the nation should be made accountable for their loot. The reference is to the charges of corruption Asif Ali Zardari was embroiled in. He is taunting Bilawal for accountability at home first. PPP leaders have also begun to respond to Shahbaz’s fiery speeches with their own equally explosive statements. There is much talk in the political and media circles as to what will happen after Eid. It remains to be seen if the PPP too will resign or it will hold dharnas like the PTI. Will both parties just kill time after Eid too? It is time to take a firm stand on the Panama issue. . (Awami Awaz)
SINDH
1. Iqbal Malah writes: on occasions like Eid, we tend to ask ourselves: why has the ‘rich’ Sindh turned so poor? What have the leaders done for the people who voted them to power? On such an occasions, we tend to remember that surely there is need to change Sindh but the question is how? An answer will be found when we look at the reasons for poverty in Sindh since 2010. A UN report states that after Balochistan it is Sindh that is most affected by poverty. The UN report makes shocking revelations about the education and health related statistics. When the Sindh authorities’ attention is drawn to the UN data, they do not accept these figures. A look around Sindh will however tell a true tale. A feeling in the media circles is that change can come only through ideology in politics. If nobody agrees with the writer’s observation that poverty is on a rise in Sindh, that person should look around from Keti Bandar to Kamo Shahid. (Awami Awaz)
2. Sindh Chief Secretary and police Chief briefed the Chief Minister on law and order. The CM directed the police to tighten security at shopping centres, masjids, and other important public places. The Chief Secretary also briefed the Sindh CM on the progress made in investigating the kidnapping of Owais Shah and the killing of singer Amjad Sabri. (Awami Awaz)