CHINA
1.  China is investing USD 10 billion in Sindh’s energy sector, especially in Thar coal. A Chinese delegation will visit Pakistan on 7th February. A Chinese government-owned company, Three Gorges, is making this investment. Another Chinese company called the United Energy Group will also work on a 2000 MW power generating project in Sindh. (Kawish, 1 February)

IRAN PIPE-LINE
1. Ausaf editorial on sanctions on Iran says that the Iran gas pipeline project can be jeopardized. Edit urges the government that the gas pipeline project is essential for Pakistan in view of its energy requirements. Edit says that Pakistan should think in terms of its national interests and not about American interests. It writes that small dams could be made on small rivers like Mahil in AJK in order to provide electricity to adjacent areas; it says that water flowing into the Arabian Sea should also be utilised by making small dams. (Ausaf Edit, 1 February)

2. Pakistan has rejected American pressure against the Iran gas pipeline project and a Pakistani delegation comprising officials of the Ministry of Petroleum has reached Tehran for further negotiations. This delegation will discuss technical issues and also reduction in prices. India has backtracked under US and western pressure, but Pakistan and Iran will go ahead. (Urdupoint, 1 February)

GERMANY
Germany’s special ambassador for Pak-Afghan, Michael Steiner will be visiting Pakistan today on a two-day visit. He will be meeting President Zardari, PM Gilani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani and will discuss US-Taliban dialogue and other issues. Sri Lankan President will also be reaching Pakistan on a two-day visit on February 8th. Agreements between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in trade and economic sectors will be inked during this visit. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

UNITED STATES/AFGHANISTAN
1. Daily Pak’s edit on US president Obama’s admission of drone attacks in Pakistan criticizes the US by saying that US drone attacks were against Pakistan’s sovereignty and were violating its air space. (Daily Pak Edit)

2. Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial on President Obama’s admission of fresh drone attacks within Pakistani territory says that US drone attacks began during Musharraf’s regime. The present government, despite its claim against drone attacks, has allowed them to continue and even surpass the number of strikes made during Musharraf’s time. Edit says that Obama and his Pakistani supporters should be tried for war crimes.  (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

DEFENCE
1. Defence Minister Chaudhary Mukhtar Ahmed said that no decision has been taken about the resumption of NATO supplies. He also said that if the US has alternatives, it should use them. (Urdupoint, 1 February)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. In his article, Saadi talks about Islam’s past and its success across the world, for boosting the morale of activists. This article is part of a membership campaign which invites people to embrace the spirit of Islam. He says that the might of the non-believers is nothing and that Islam would soon dominate all else. (Al Qalam Weekly, 3 February to 9 February)

2. Dafa-e-Pakistan Council Chairman Maulana Samiul Haq and other members of the council wrote a letter to the PM, president, Senate Chairman, NA speaker, military leadership, parliamentarians and CJP. This letter reportedly reiterated their demand against restoring NATO supplies. This letter also mentioned that the people were worried as there was a probability of resumption of suicide attacks. (Jinnah)

3. Federal cabinet has expressed concern over banned organizations participating in Dafa-e-Pakistan Council rallies and has recommended a ban on such rallies. PM Gilani has instructed all 4 provinces to ban rallies in which banned organizations were participating. (Daily Pak)

4. A session was held in the JI institution Noor-e-Haq regarding the February 12th Dafa-e-Pakistan Council conference in Karachi. Leaders of JUI-F Qari Abdul Mannan, and Hafiz Ahmed Ali; JuD leaders Naved Qamar and Prof Mahmood ul Hassan participated in this session in which various committees were formed to make the conference a success. Another session would be held today in which top JI leader Syed Munawar Hassan and JuD leader Hafiz Saeed will participate.  (Jasarat)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Government was in touch with PML-N for consensus for approval of the 20th constitutional amendment. PML-N has refused to accept the amendment in its present form. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. PPP leadership is worried by PML-Q demand of 8-10 seats. PPP leaders are not in favour of allotting more than 4 seats to PML-Q as they think approximately 20 PML-Q senators will quit their party in March in protest against the Chaudhary brothers. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

3. Former JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad said that the restoration of MMA was priority for them and that adjustments would be made with religious parties for the upcoming elections. He warned that the restoration of NATO supplies would be considered as an act of deceit to the blood of soldiers and youth. He warned that if the NATO supplies were resumed, JI would blockade the parliament. He urged the government for forming an independent Election Commission and for holding elections as soon as possible. He said that there could be no peace in Pakistan, until peace and stability were established in Afghanistan. (Jinnah)

4. Addressing MQM Rabeta Committee on telephone, MQM leader Altaf Hussain expressed distress at the ongoing violence in Karachi. He said that Karachi had been handed over to armed terrorists as per a planned strategy. (Khabrain)

5. In his article, Dr. Ayub Sheikh says that the civilian government is safe now, after being surrounded by issues like NRO and Memogate. He sees American interference behind this settlement of all issues. According to Sheikh, recently evens in Pakistan were an institutional tug-of-war over resources and power. He talks about the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and says that the US has realized that sending its armies abroad has yielded more losses for America; hence, the US has made up its mind to call back all its armies over the next 20 years. Sheikh says that according to the changed American policy, it plans to withdraw from in the Middle East in the next 20 years and its bases in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE will wind up. He is of the opinion that the US has also given premature indications that it will change its Pakistan policy, especially in the light of reactions in Pakistan on the Raymond Davis and the Salala check-post attack issues. Sheikh says this is evident from NATO forces withdrawing from borders close to Peshawar; the charge of Chaman, Jalalabad, Khost, Pakhtia and Kandahar has been handed over to the Afghan Army. Now that the situation is different and the US is also cutting down its aid to Pakistan, Pakistan would have to review its own policies. According to Sheikh, Pakistan is a one-of-a-kind country as it is surrounded by important countries like India, China, Iran and Afghanistan. It is a nuclear state and hence, its enemies treat it with care. The world community views Pakistan as a failed state. Sheikh uses the example of Karachi-born author Tariq Fateh’s statement that the establishment of Pakistan works against any community that loves its mother tongue. Fateh said that just like the massacre of Bengalis saw to the creation of Bangladesh, attacks on Balochis have separated them from the mainstream. Sheikh says that disenchantment is on the rise in Pakistan. (Kawish, 1 February)

6. Daily Intekhab’s edit says that Mansoor Ijaz’s request to record his statement in the US is an insult of the Pakistan SC and the SC did the right thing by rejecting the request. (Daily Intekhab Edit)

7.While speaking with media during ‘Sirat Conference’ in Jamia Masjid Mansoora, JI chief Syed Munawar Hassan said that the government had postponed 3rd February’s NA session and that whenever it was held, they will not allow the members to sign a deal to resume NATO supplies. He criticized the world community for its silence over disrespect shown to dead bodies of Taliban fighters by American troops in Afghanistan. (Jasarat)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. Jinnah’s edit on inflation criticizes the PPP government for not acting upon its poll promise of ‘food, clothing and shelter’. (Jinnah Edit)

PUNJAB
1. Punjab government has begun installing a new traffic system in 5 cities with help from Turkey. (Daily Pak)
 
SINDH
1. Law and Justice Committee of the National Assembly has unanimously given its approval to accord Sindhi language the status of a national language. This bill will now be forwarded in the NA for further debate. It has also been referred to the Constitution Reforms Committee. (Ibrat, 1 February)

2. Sindh National Front’s Mumtaz Bhutto said he was pleased that Jalal Mahmood Shah of Sindh United Party and Shah Mahmood Shah were taking ahead Sindh National Front’s 1985 programme of confederation. He said his party will support all those who were protecting Sindhi interests and rights. He said that at present, Sindh had been reduced to a battlefield and that the government was kowtowing to MQM to remain in power. (Ibrat, 1 February)

3. Jasarat editorial on Karachi situation says that government to go deeper into the issue in order to identify elements that resurface time and again to disrupt Karachi’s peace. It is the government’s responsibility to protect the people and their property. (Ibrat Edit, 1 February)

4. Jasarat editorial says corruption of Rs. 8 billion has been reported in the flood relief and rehabilitation work.  (Jasarat Edit)

BALOCHISTAN
1. Baloch terrorists were getting foreign aid and money; arms were reaching Balochistan from the Pak-Afghan border. (Ummat)

POK NEWS
1. AJK PM Abdul Majid said that a medical college would be established in Rawalkot this year and an IT university would be opened in Khadi Sharif in affiliation with the Al Azhar University of Egypt. He also claimed that a solution of the Kashmir dispute could be found through trade between India and Pakistan.  (Ausaf, 1 February)

G-B NEWS
1. Federal Interior Minister Rahman Malik said that his statement regarding terrorists from G-B involved in Karachi violence was not to offend the people of G-B. He said that a mother from G-B had called him to inform that her son was playing into the hands of terrorists and that they had paid him Rs.70,000 and had also given him weapons and explosives. Malik said that investigations were made and it came out that around 15-20 persons from G-B were directly or indirectly involved in terrorism and that they were in touch with Maulvi Fazlullah across the border. Students from G-B and other regions have condemned Malik’s statement. (Baad-e-Shimal)

2. Federal government has started releasing funds in instalments to G-B government to enable it to pay salaries and pension to government employees. On Wednesday, the federal finance ministry released Rs.91.80 crores towards G-B’s regular budget instalment. (Baad-e-Shimal)

3. President of Markazi (central) Imamiya -Gilgit, Faqir clarified that majority of G-B people did not consider themselves as a part of Kashmir but as the fourth party to the Kashmir issue. He said that the recent constitutional package was a positive move towards including G-B into national mainstream. He said that a constructional amendment should be made to make G-B a proper constitutional province of Pakistan just like AJK. (Baad-e-Shimal)

4. Baad-e-Shimal editorially hailed the announcement that Gilgit, Ghazar, and Hunza districts will be formed into the Gilgit Division; Astore and Diamir districts into the Diamir Division and Chalat Nagar, Phandar, Chorbut and border areas as another district. Edit says that the CM should also resolve the financial crisis and make payments to construction contractors so that the pending development projects could take off. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)