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
1. The mastermind of the attack on Sri Lanka cricket team in March 2009 has been killed in an Afghan forces operation. The Lanka team was attacked while on its way to the Lahore stadium. When the Pakistani Army mounted Op Zarb-e-Azb, Qari Ajmal fled to Afghanistan. Now his death strengthens Pakistan’s allegations that Afghanistan is sheltering Pakistan’s rival elements. Whenever they get an opportunity they attack Pakistan and return back. Pakistan’s leadership should talk to the Afghan leadership in this connection. (Ausaf Edit)
INDIA
1. PTI leader Mohammad Sarwar, who is also a former Punjab Governor, will address members of the House of Commons today evening on Kashmir issue. PTI sources said that he is in London these days to create awareness about Indian atrocities and human rights violations in Kashmir. He will speak to members of House of Commons at 4 pm today on Kashmir problem. (Jang)
2. Opposition leader in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan of PPP has criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for not raising about Indian agent Kulbhushan Yadav at the UN General Assembly. He taunted that if the Indian Prime Minister Modi had such Pakistani officials as evidence then he would have mentioned about such person in his every speech and even represented the person as evidence before the international community. (Khabrain)
3. The Muslim Conference has given a call of crossing the Line of Control once again after 58 years; this time it has chosen Chakhoti, Titrinot and Smahini sectors for crossing. Jamaat-e-Islami has supported the MC call. The JI AJK Chief Abdul Rashid Turrabi may also participate in the crossing of LoC. (Ummat)
4. Turkey said that it is monitoring the deteriorating situation in Kashmir and issue will be raised at the OIC. (Jasarat)
5. The President of AJK Masood Khan said that India is trying to mislead the world community. He alleged that India has enacted a drama of surgical strike to deflect attention from the Kashmir situation. (Jasarat)
6. Founder’s Group Chairman Ajaz Butt said Kalabagh Dam is an answer to India’s water bomb and should be constructed. (Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt)
ARMY
1. Khursheed Shah, the opposition leader in the National Assembly said some senior General should succeed Raheel Sharif, who is a good Army Chief. He also said that the Pakistan foreign policy has failed because there is no full-fledged foreign minister in Pakistan. (Awami Awaz)
ECONOMY
1.The government should roll back the 36 % hike in gas tariff. (Khabrain)
2.There is an acute scarcity of medicines, particularly essential drugs in the country. (Khabrain Edit)
BALOCHISTAN
1. A terrorist was killed by Frontier Corps and Sensitive Agencies in Quetta whereas two persons have been taken into custody from the Mach area. The arrested persons belong to a defunct organization; they were looking for carrying out destructive activities on the occasion of Moharram. (Ummat)
2. Four important commanders of Balochistan Liberation Front and Baloch Republican Army have given up weapons along with 27 companions in front of Home Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti and joined the mainstream. (Ummat-Jasarat)
SINDH/KPK/PUNJAB
1. The machine guns unearthed at Azizabad near the MQM headquarters are sent for forensic examination. The investigation is in progress as to how and when these weapons were made. Serial numbers on weapons are sent to the factory for verification. (Kawish)
2. Asad Qaiser speaker of Khyber Pakhtunkhwah said that if the Federal government and the Prime Minister do not hold talks with the KPK government and political parties on the western route of the CPEC, this economic corridor project will not be allowed to pass through KPK. The issue concerns coming generations of KPK. There will be no compromise on this. Addressing a meeting in Peshawar he said that KPK has objections not against Punjab but against PM and the Federal government for not keeping assurances given on the western route. This has led to a sense that the KPK government and the people of KPK are being let down and betrayed. He asked: ‘Is KPK not part of Pakistan? Then, why is KPK being ignored in the CPEC project. Nawaz Sharif should represent the whole country but he represents only interests of Punjab as PM’. (Kawish)
GILGIT-BALTISTAN
1. Peace must be maintained during Muharram and Ashura in Gilgit-Baltistan. Security must receive top billing. This is important. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
2. Under the Gilgit Safe City Project digital Police control room has started working with 285 CCTV’s across the city. Observation Vehicles, Nigh Vision Static, and PTZ cameras with zooming facilities have also started working with 6 people along with 1 administrator, 8 operators and two supervisors on 24 hours duty schedule. Gilgit-Baltistan Police also aim to have such digital control rooms in other big cities as well. (Baad-e-Shimal)
3. Gilgit-Baltistan CM Hafiz-ur-Rahman said that the Federal Government is undertaking construction of four big hospitals in the province. It will also develop roads in Ghizer and Astore. He is happy that Rs.15 billion has been saved on Diamer Bhasha Dam project. (Baad-e-Shimal)
4. Gilgit-Baltistan Interior Secretary Ahsan Bhatta said that there will be tight security on Ashura. Processions will be monitored from air as well. (Baad-e-Shimal)
POLITICAL SCENE
1. The government and opposition are engaged in a tug of war over Panama Leaks whereas this chapter has been closed in the international community within one or two weeks. (Ausaf Edit)
2. PTI Chief Imran Khan has planned to take his protest march to Islamabad. And the government is busy increasing prices of gas. Fact of the matter is the opposition has many issues to corner the government instead of creating ruckus in the capital streets. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
3. Munir Ahmad Baloch, a columnist, has ticked off ‘Dawn’ journalist Cyril Almeida for his ‘leak’ story. When there is chaos in the country and across the border, what was the need for it? At this hour what was the need for character assassinations of Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar? PML (N) lawmaker Rana Afzal also said in National Assembly’s Standing Committee that Pakistan was questioned by global Think Tanks that why the government is shielding Hafiz Seed. This indicates that all efforts are being made to give an impression that the civilian leaders are against Hafiz Saeed but the military is a hurdle in taking action against Hafiz Saeed. (Roznama Duniya)
4. Leaders close to Difa-e-Pakistan Council like Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch, ASWJ leader Ludhianvi and former PM of Azad Kashmir Sardar Attique have demanded action against the PML-N law maker Rana Afzal for speaking against the JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed in the joint session of Parliament. (Ummat)
5. Sindh minister, Manzoor Wassan says there are 50-50 chances of Nawaz Sharif completing his term which ends in 2018. Hamza Shahbaz, Shahbaz Sharif’s son can replace him as the Punjab CM. He predicted that the next polls will see bitter contest between PML-N and PTI but PPP will win the elections. He commented that after raising the voice on Panama leaks issue, four branches of the State Bank in Karachi are being shifted to Punjab. The Sindh government has lodged protests on this development and has demanded the State Bank branches should be allowed to continue in Karachi. The business community in Karachi is already upset with the federal government for its attitude towards the business community. (Awami Awaz)
6. Naeem-ul-Haque, spokesperson of PTI, said that constitutionally and morally speaking, Nawaz Sharif is no more the PM. The bandh PTI is organising in Islamabad on October 30, will be historic and mammoth. (Kawish)
7. Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri refused to meet the PTI and AML leaders in London. He is going to concentrate on starting his own agenda of indemnity movement on 21st October instead of supporting the PTI plan for closure of Islamabad on the 30 October. (Daily Pak)
8. Columnist Ibrahim Kumbhar says, Imran Khan has made one thing clear that he wants Nawaz Sharif’s resignation. Imran has also demanded that Zardari be ousted from PPP like Altaf is being ousted from MQM. At his last press conference, Imran had also hit at the opposition leader Khursheed Shah in the National Assembly. These things point out to the fact that Imran is not prepared to trust any political party or leader. Pakistan’s problem is that Pakistan is isolated in the region and this is because of policies which are being framed without knowledge of the civilian government and leaders. Imran Khan should also raise fingers at the establishment people who are framing Pakistan’s foreign policy. Imran should use tough language against them too. (Kawish)
.