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.
BANGLADESH
1. Jasarat edit is a take on Bangladesh government’s rejection of Pakistani objections in regard to death penalty to JI Chief Motiur Rahman Nizami terming Pakistan’s concerns as interference in its internal affairs. JI has been the defender of the ideology of Pakistan and for the same cause in 1971 JI had collaborated with the Pakistani Army. Observes that the issue is not internal because all the accused have been termed as ‘Pakistani’ sympathisers and hence issue is also related with Pakistan. Bangladesh was created out of Pakistan. The soft reaction of Pakistani politicians has not had any effect on Bangladeshi leaders as Bangladesh is punishing loyalists of Pakistan on the behest of India. (Jasarat Edit)
AFGHANISTAN
1. In five provinces of Afghanistan, 64 people including two military commanders while the Taliban has gained control of three chowkies. In Zabul, Ghor, and Urozgan provinces, 17 Afghan troops had surrendered to the Taliban, who have taken away several weapons tanks and machine guns. (Ummat)
INDIA
1. Dr. Asim, Zardari’s aide who was presently facing charges of corruption, has reportedly revealed that he was building a Global Medical Centre in Bangalore, India and that it was under construction now. NAB has collected a lot of evidence about Dr. Asim having sent huge funds to India. The money laundering had been done through one Dubai-based company. (Kawish, Jang, Roznama Dunya, Jasarat, Ummat)
2. Special envoy of OIC for Kashmir, Abdullah Alim, led a 5-member delegation to Muzaffarabad and held meetings with AJK PM and other figures. They also visited the LoC. AJK PM demanded OIC countries to effectively try and end India’s illegal occupation in Kashmir. Abdullah Alim said India and Pakistan should promote the negotiation process for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. (Daily Dharti)
3. RAW and NDS are behind a conspiracy of planning to stage 28/11 type attack (Mumbai mayhem, 2008) on two five star hotels in Islamabad but intelligence agencies had foiled the ambitions of the enemy. Many facilitators were arrested along with planed attackers. Additionally, according to sources, RAW and NDS had formed a joint desk to sabotage CPEC. (Ummat)
4. JuD chief Hafiz Saeed said that the Indian network working for the separation of Balochistan was destroyed by the Army Operation. He also criticised the Bangladesh government for executing JI leaders on what he terms as instructions from India and asked the Pakistan government to act in this regard. (Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Roznama Dunya, Ummat)
5. Ausaf editorially criticised Indian government’s reported plan to make colonies in Jammu and Kashmir for retired soldiers, and supported Hurriyat’ movement against the move. Pakistan should approach US and the international community to get India to stop its actions. (Ausaf Edit)
ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
1. Jang editorial welcomed Rangers’ decision to agree for a judicial investigation into the custodial torture and death of the MQM activist. (Jang Edit)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Former Interior Minister, Rahman Malik, has said that TTP would claim responsibility for any incident for money. He made this comment while rejecting the TTP claim that they had killed PTI leader Swaran Singh. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. 5 terrorists from Peshawar and 3 from Quetta have been arrested. They were conspiring to carry out Mumbai-type terrorists attacks in major cities. (Roznama Dunya)
POLITICAL SCENE –PANAMA PAPERS
1. Maulana Obaid-ur-Rahman Abbasi has been appointed as the Chief of the Jamiat-e-Tulba Arabia Pakistan. (Jasarat)
2. On the arrest of Balochistan Finance Secretary on charges of corruption, Naseem Bukhari writes: If all those arrested in this case started spilling beans, then it would leave several others red faced. It is likely that raids will be conducted on the offices and home of many more bureaucrats. The bureaucratic corruption is worse in Sindh. Almost every secretary is under a dark cloud because there is no accountability process in place. No doubt, everybody loves money but PPP activists seem to love it like never before because of the direct or tacit blessings from their party leadership. While some PPP leaders and ministers are trying to “settle the matter”, some others are trying to leave the country, or going underground. (Ibrat)
3. Ashfaq Azar, in his article, writes that he is not at all hopeful that anything concrete would happen ultimately in the Panama disclosures case. When PM could not muster the courage to appear before Parliament and give details of his assets, it is futile to expect that there ever could be any legislation to remove the flaws in the taxation laws or take any effective measures to check tax evasion. Looting of the exchequer till ethics become part of Pakistani politics. (Kawish)
4. Nazir Naji criticises PPP for supporting the ruling PML-N party in the Panama leaks case. This is against Z.A. Bhutto’s policies. Nawaz government would gain public support by writing off loans of big debtors which in turn could pave the way for its second term. On its part, PPP would be of power. (Roznama Dunya)
5. Several editorial have appeared on the second list of Panama Leaks. Many big names of the opposition are now under the radar; An Operation Zarb-e-Azb is required for the politicians as well since those who had transferred their funds illegally to off -shore accounts surely cannot fall under the category of patriotic people. It is still not too late to bring their funds back and invest in Pakistan, as this is the only way to make amends or else the people of the country will never pardon them. There should be transparent and strict investigations against the people whose names have appeared in the lists. Daily Pak and Nawa-i-Waqt ask the opposition to stop targeting PM Sharif and point out that the government is ready for consultation with the opposition on Terms of Reference for the probe. Khabrain, Jang, and Roznama Dunya have criticised politicking over Panama Papers and said the government and opposition should finalise the ToRs through consultation. Ausaf Editorial termed misappropriation, violation of merit, and lack of accountability as Pakistan’s biggest issues. (Ibrat Edit, Kawish Edit, Daily Pak Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit, Khabrain Edit, Jang Edit, Roznama Dunya Edit, Ausaf Edit)
ECONOMY/WATER
1. Reports have stated that China will help Pakistan to get ADB aid for poverty eradication. The amount will be too little to be of any help. Real help in removing poverty will be generation of employment opportunities, which will in turn need educational opportunities for the youth. The problem can be tackled by laying emphasis on village based industries. (Roznama Dunya Edit)
POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Daily K2 editorially expressed happiness that the Gilgit-Baltistan Education Minister, Ibrahim Sanai, has vowed to bring reforms in the education sector and to end feudalism. Education standard in Muslim countries is very low as compared to developed countries. The governments should fully concentrate on improving education and literacy. There are 258 parties working in Pakistan out of which only 28 were political and religious parties, while 124 groups have made jihad as their mission. There are only 128 Universities in Pakistan whereas India has more than 8500 universities and that is making the difference at the international level. (Daily K2 Edit)
2. Baad-e-Shimal edit says that unemployment is increasing in Gilgit-Baltistan, and adds that it is the responsibility of the state to provide jobs to its citizens. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
3. Daily Dharti makes a call for reconstruction of the Pooch Division highway that links Pooch with Pakistan. (Daily Dharti Edit)