CHINA
1. Beijing has assured Islamabad that it would contact US at the diplomatic level to ensure Pakistan’s security, Pakistani envoy to China, Masood Khan. (Jinnah)
IRAN
1. Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim has said gas supply from Iran will begin in December 2014. (Jasarat)
UNITED STATES
1. Admiral Mike Mullen has said that the ISI is providing funds and safe shelters in Pakistan not only to the Haqqani Network but also to the LeT. He said that Pakistan has been using religious groups as weapons against India, and now it has started using them against Afghanistan too. Mullen also said India should adopt a flexible attitude over the Kashmir issue. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. In Urdupoint, MI Khan writes: When Pakistan joined hands with America in the war against terrorism, Pakistan lefts its western borders unsecure. Those to whom Pakistan facilitated safe havens at the US behest in order to defeat USSR have turned against Pakistan. Musharraf’s decision to throw Pakistan into this war has proved against the country’s interests. Now the US is making a hue and cry about the Haqqani Network when the US itself had supported the Network during the Afghanistan war. Jalaluddin Haqqani is the commander-in-chief of Taliban and that they don’t have a separate army or network as propagated by America. The US would have to convince that if the Haqqani Network were actually so lethal, why they were not under discussion 10 years back. U.S. is wounded and hence, it is increasing pressure on Pakistan. (Urdupoint)
3. In Al Qalam Weekly, Talh-e-Assaif writes: Pakistan has been an American ally over the last 60 years but it has achieved nothing for all its sacrifices; in fact, now its credibility is being questioned by the US. Due to the war on terror, Pakistan has suffered humiliation, internal chaos, disrespect at an international level and economic devastation. The US may just attack Pakistani soil. Yet, the Pakistani leadership refuses to abandon the American-led war. Jalaluddin Haqqani’s contribution in the jihad against USSR made the US the only superpower in the world. Ever since Pakistan joined hands with the US against the Taliban government in Afghanistan, Jalaluddin Haqqani has scrapped ties with Pakistan. (Al Qalam Weekly, 30 September to 30 October)
4. At a seminar organized by Waqt News titled ‘Sovereignty and American interests’, a leader of former president Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League, Brig. (Retd.) Haris Nawaz said that the real target of USA, India and Israel was Pakistan’s nuclear program. Senior journalist and analyst Syed Saghir Ali and JI leader Meraj-ul-Huda agreed with this assessment. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
5. Baad-e-Shimal edit: US has begun accusing Pakistan again; this is a new conspiracy to use Karzai against Pakistan. Post 9/11, this is the first time that the US has turned to so aggressive that Pakistan has to pay for the act that was not committed by it. Edit ends by saying that it was the right time to end ties with the US. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
6. Daily Pak editorial has welcomed Secy. of State Hillary Clinton’s support of Pakistan in the context of Mike Mullen’s allegations. Ambiguity prevails both in the US and Pakistan about the future strategy concerning Afghanistan; both countries agree to quit Afghanistan and hold dialogues with Taliban, but are not clear on how to go about. (Daily Pak Edit)
7. Jang editorial: Though America’s approach has changed after the successful APC in Pakistan, it is still giving an impression that relations with Pakistan would benefit both nations. It seems that the US had changed its direct aggression policy and is now preparing India to keep tabs on Pakistan. Towards this end, the US is going to push for a strategic agreement between Afghanistan and India. The US has understood that it would have to move out of Afghanistan shortly and hence, it wants India to take care of its regional interests. India has no idea that it has been trapped as it is keen on establishing its own supremacy in the region. India needs to understand that it has to live with Pakistan and Afghanistan and not the US and hence, it would be in everyone’s interests to maintain good relations with each other. India, Pakistan and Afghanistan needed to sit together to resolve their differences. (Jang Edit)
AFGHANISTAN
1.US has accused Pakistan of placing 5088 landmines in Afghanistan between June and August this year as a result of which 63 US troops were killed. (Jinnah)
INDIA
1. India will begin extensive war exercises along the Pakistani border during this week. The purpose of these war exercises is to stamp out the enemy’s defence and capture its strategic assets. (Baad-e-Shimal, Daily Pak)
DEFENCE
1. Army has protested to the Pakistan Railways against stopping in various stations of goods trains carrying supplies to the armed forces. The Railways have stopped several goods trains due to non-availability of engines. The engine crunch also hit the goods trains on army duty. (Jasarat)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Tehreek-e-Taliban Vice Chief Maulvi Faqir has said that in an interview that they were ready to hold negotiations with the Pakistan government but the ANP should not be involved in these negotiations. He welcomed PM Gilani’s attempt to negotiate with all factions for maintaining peace. (Khabrain)
2. Sunni Ittehad Council has called for a nationwide shut-down on Friday against the verdict on Mumtaz Qadri. (Ausaf, 3 October)
3. JI Karachi leaders have condemned the verdict on Mumtaz Qadri and stated that the protection of Prophet Muhammad’s honour is the responsibility of every Muslim. They also said that Qadri has given proof of his conscience by killing Salman Taseer who had blasphemed. (Jasarat)
4. Lawyers of the Rawalpindi District Bar have warned the government that if the judge who delivered the verdict on Mumtaz Qadri is not removed within three days, they will start the gherao of all anti-terrorism courts. (Jasarat)
5. JUI-F would take out a rally on October 7th from the Lal Masjid to oppose the US and for showing support for Mumtaz Qadri. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri will lead the rally. (Jinnah)
6. Jinnah’s editorial welcomes PM Gilani’s decision to hold talks with all factions of the society including Taliban for maintaining peace. A policy should be put in place quickly for talks with Taliban be worked up soon. (Jinnah Edit)
WATER- ELECTRICITY- ECONOMY
1. Federal government has signed an agreement with a five-company consortium for the 4320 MW Dassu hydel project on River Indus at a meeting held at the WAPDA house. The consortium is made up of 3 Pakistani companies and 1 company each from Japan and Turkey. The Rs. 1.91 trillion project will be located at Dassu town, 7 kilometres from the Indus River. (Kawish)
2. Central deputy president of JI, Sirajul Haq, has announced a massive rally demanding ‘protection’ of the Pakistan Railways. He demanded the arrest of all leaders who have pushed the railways to its present mess. (Jasarat)
3. Fertilizers companies have warned that if they do not receive gas supply, they will not be able to produce urea. And the country will have to spend USD 320-428 million on fertilizer import. (Jasarat)
4. Daily Intekhab takes the government to task for announcing another increase in petrol prices and electricity tariffs even as the country is witnessing ever increasing power cuts. While the government remains unconcerned about people’s problems, the US is adding fuel to the fire with its aggressive policies. The government or the Army alone cannot do anything in such a scenario and that it is necessary for the people of Pakistan to be taken into confidence. (Daily Intekhab Edit)
5. Ummat edit is on electricity crisis and the beginning of a public movement against it. The government should heed the warning signals. (Ummat Edit)
6. Ausaf edit says the current power deficit has reached 7500 MW and the load-shedding now lasts 20 hours daily in some places which has affected businesses adversely. Punjab government has told the federal government that load-shedding has also affected the treatment of dengue patients. (Ausaf Edit, 3 October)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said that Nawaz Sharif is blackmailing the government on the issue of power crisis. Sharif should explain as to why he had stopped Thar Coal schemes started by the Benazir Bhutto government. Sharif is indeed responsible for the current power crisis. (Ibrat)
2. Contacts have been established once again between PPP and MQM. PPP minister Agha Siraj met Sindh governor Ishratul Ibad and discussed MQM’s joining the government. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
3. Sind High Court has issued notices to the federal government on a petition that demands stoppage of American flights from the Shahbaz and Shamsi airbases. This matter will come up for further hearing on October 24th. (Kawish)
4. In Awami Awaz, Lala Khan writes: all parties’ conference was a farce in which no guidelines have been set for the future. All parties participating in the conference had a pro-capitalist agenda. There is no cure for the lack of nationalism in Pakistan. There has never been an APC on the real issues facing the country. The right wing of Pakistan and the fundamentalists are anti-America only because they feel that they are no more the favourites of the US and are not being given incentives anymore. (Awami Awaz, 3 October)
BALOCHISTAN
1. Balochistan CM Nawab Aslam Raeesani has said that he has no concrete evidence of India’s involvement in Balochistan. Interior Minister Rahman Malik should be questioned about the evidence since he had making the charge against India. (Ummat, Jinnah)
2. Balochistan CM Nawab Aslam Raeesani has denied that there is a Quetta Shura. (Ummat, Jinnah)
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Law enforcement agencies did not give clearance for a session of the cabinet in the Governor’s House in Peshawar on security considerations. (Jasarat)
SINDH
1. Supreme Court will deliver its judgment on the Karachi situation on Thursday. (Jasarat)
2. PPP leader Babbar Awan has reached Karachi on an assignment given by President Zardari to get MQM back into the Sindh government. MQM leader Ahmad Rizvi said that MQM could only consider joining Sindh government only once there is peace in Karachi. (Kawish)
3. Sindh CM Qaim Ali Shah said that the province had losses worth Rs. 457 billion due to heavy rains. (Ummat)
4. Sindh Interior Minister Manzoor Wasan said that more recruitment will be made to the Sindh police very soon, purely on the basis of merit. He claimed that the situation in Karachi is improving and that there has been no target killing after August 23rd. Wasan said that there would be another Karachi-like operation to resolve kabila disputes in Sindh. (Ibrat)
5. Following PM’s orders to get land freed from the land mafia, an operation has started in Karachi and 10 arrests have been made in this connection. (Ibrat)
6. Protest rallies were taken out across Sindh against WAPDA holding it responsible for the widespread power cuts. (Ibrat)
POK NEWS
1. British MPs including Steven Baker have written a letter to AJK PM Chaudhary Abdul Majid in which they have assured that British MPs would play their role in getting human rights violations stopped in J&K and will work towards getting the Kashmiris the right to self-determination. (Ausaf, 3 October)
2. Former AJK PM Sardar Atiq Ahmad Khan was the only AJK politician called for the APC on America, sources said. (Daily Dharti)
3. AJK has the potential to produce 25000 MW of hydro-electricity; areas that can generate 17000 MW have been studied and a feasibility report on 5000 MW has been prepared. No one has paid attention to this feasibility report. AJK government is not allowed to take up projects of more than 100 MW. WAPDA is in the clutches of multinational companies and this has led to neglect of AJK’s hydel power capacity. (Ausaf, 3 October)
4. Daily Dharti editorial is on agitation against the delay in the reconstruction of earthquake-affected areas in the Poonch district in AJK. Mega projects are yet to be completed and that the development work is not going on as per standard. The new AJK government should pay attention to these lapses immediately. (Daily Dharti Edit)
G-B NEWS
1. AJK President Sardar Yaqoob Khan said that Gilgit-Baltistan was a part of the AJK and that the government would undertake all measures to end unemployment and illiteracy there. (Daily Dharti)
2. G-B CM has sent formal invitation to all provincial governments to build small dams at various locations in G-B to rid Pakistan of its recurring energy crisis and G-B of its unemployment issue. (Baad-e-Shimal)
3. A Rs. 48 crore budget was presented in the G-B Council; this budget will be sanctioned by the PM on October 17th. Besides the G-B CM, federal representatives were also present at the G-B budget council meeting where 300 new jobs were also created. (Baad-e-Shimal)
4. Prominent citizens of the Diamir district in Gilgit-Baltistan have said that the Gilgit-Baltistan Education Board has ignored the Diamir district and that the Secretary of Education was neglecting it. (Exclusive in Ausaf, Ausaf, 3 October)
5. Hazrat Deedar, PPP President, Kohistan district (G-B) said that some people had threatened to kill him as he belonged to PPP. He alleged that a criminal had entered Gilgit from Kalam Kohistan with an intention to kill him. (Ausaf, 3 October)
6. Due to by-elections in Rawalkot, the alliance between JI and PML-N is on the verge of break-up with both parties staking claim for the seat. JI leader Aijaz Afzal wants to enter the fray while the PML-N has also decided to field its own candidate. (Ausaf, 3 October)
7. Baad-e-Shimal EDIT is critical of the energy crisis in G-B and writes that the electricity department did not appear to be serious about resolving the crisis. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
