2. Taliban have shot down two helicopters and have killed 137 allied forces in various attacks in Afghanistan last week. Due to stopping of NATO supplies, allied operations have been badly affected, and the ground operations have almost ended. (Al Qalam Weekly, 20 January to 26 January)

INDIA
1.At the Dafa-e-Pakistan conference, speakers said if the NATO supply were restored, people would come out on the streets from Karachi to KP and would stop containers by force. JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said that the US was pushing India against Pakistan and that India was involved in destructive activities in Balochistan. Maulana Sami-ul-Haq said that they would resort to jihad for Pakistan’s defence and to free it from US control. He added that India could not be considered as Pakistan’s most favoured nation. Gen. (Retd) Hamid Gul declared that India would not be able to continue its control over Kashmir for long. (Urdupoint, Baad-e-Shimal, Nawa-i-Waqt, Daily Pak, Jinnah)

2. Chaudhary Shauqat Ali, leader of central Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadis (Bradford, UK) said Trade Minister Amin Fahim’s plan of giving India MFN status is rubbing salt on the wounds of Kashmiris. He said India was not ready to give the right of self determination to Kashmiris but Pakistan was ready to give India MFN status. (Ausaf, 22 January)

UNITED STATES/MYANMAR/GERMANY
1.US envoy in Pakistan expects Pakistan to notify its new terms and conditions for engagement with Washington with in the next two weeks.. He said that USA was ready for talks with Pakistan at all levels. Some high-level personality from Washington will come to Islamabad for dialogue soon, he indicated. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. Ausaf edit says US special envoy for Af-Pak Marc Grossman has said that the US respects Pakistan but the US keeps threatening Pakistan of repercussions if it failed to restore NATO supply route. Sadly, the US is still using pressure tactics with Pakistan. (Ausaf Edit, 22 January)

3. President Zardari will leave for Myanmar tomorrow on a 3-day visit. (Jinnah)

4. There is a German Secret agency BND office in Pakistan as one BND official was arrested; it is said that the BND office is functioning without permission from the Pakistan government. (Jang)

DEFENCE
1. Retired Army generals have demanded that complete protocol and security be given to Musharraf on his return. This demand was raised at a programme organized by the organization of retired generals called ‘Pakistan First’. (Ibrat, 22 January)

2. In an interview, Hussain Haqqani’s wife Farahnaz Ispahani said that she had left Pakistan as she had been afraid of ISI. She said that had she not left Pakistan, ISI would’ve forced her husband to sign a confession statement about Memogate by abducting her. She claimed that anyone who spoke against extremism was eliminated by the ISI. (Urdupoint, Nawa-i-Waqt, Daily Pak, Khabrain)

3. In his column, Irfan Siddiqui expresses apprehension that COAS Gen. Kayani and ISI chief Pasha would throw the government and asks the judiciary to ensure that they do not go ahead with such plan. The judiciary will have to establish its supremacy, so that people can live in peace. (Jang)

4. JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that in the present circumstances, the Army doesn’t want to come to power. He said that Mansoor Ijaz had created conspiracies in the past and this time, he has been successful. He called for unravelling the Memogate issue to bring out the truth. (Jinnah)

5. Weapons made in the Tribal Areas are being smuggled into Punjab and Sindh. (Jinnah)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Shura of South Waziristan Taliban has rejected reports that the Shura had issued a statement supporting  PTI chief Imran Khan or any other politician visiting South Waziristan. The Shura spokesperson Ahmedullah Ahmedi said that they respected people who wanted to resolve issues of tribals. (Jasarat)

2. Taliban have released a video of killing 15 FC personnel; in the video, they threatened to continue attacks in case the killings of their companions did not stop. This video is from Tank in KP. (Jasarat, Urdupoint, Ibrat, Jang)

3. In Baad-e-Shimal, Abdul Jabbar Nasir writes the Dafa-e- Pakistan Council has proved that if religious powers unite, they can become a potent national political force. Many observers are wondering about the source of funds for holding Dafa-e- Pakistan Council  rallies and they are spreading the canard that the Council is a conglomeration of  40 religious parties. The fact of the matter is only forty religious parties are members of Dafa-e- Pakistan Council. Out of them, active players are six namely JuD, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, JUI-S, JI, Muslim League and Ansar-ul Ummah Pakistan.. (Baad-e-Shimal)

4. The next the Dafa-e-Pakistan Conference will be held on February 14 at Mazar-e-Qaid . JuD activists were meeting with various leaders and associations for enlisting their support for the meet.. (Jasarat)

5. Western countries are interested in the Dafa-e-Pakistan conference; they made inquiries with the local media about the presence of JuD activists and the speech delivered by JuD chief Hafiz Saeed. JuD activists were all over the conference venue. Posters and buntings carried slogans like ‘Media must stop anti-Islamic media war, ‘Muslim prisoners should be released’, ‘Release of Asiya Siddiqui is mandatory for Muslims’, ‘Secret networks of American spies in Pakistan should be closed down’, ‘NATO supply should continue to be stopped’, ‘Kashmir is jugular vein of Pakistan’, ‘Pakistan is incomplete until the liberation of Kashmir’ and ‘Stop killing of Muslims in drone attacks’. (Jasarat, Baad-e-Shimal, Jinnah)

6. Addressing ‘Islam Zindabad’ rally in Lyari, JUI Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said that Pakistan would soon be run by the Ulema and not by Oxford graduates. (Ummat)

PAK SCENE- MEMOGATE
1. Mansoor Ijaz has reached Switzerland and from there he would fly to Dubai this afternoon. He had talked to American officials in Switzerland about his security in Pakistan. Ijaz has maintained that he would step inside Pakistan only if he got foolproof security. His lawyer Akram Sheikh is likely to meet him in Dubai today. (Ibrat)

2. Former SCBA chief Asma Jehangir said that Mansoor Ijaz has direct ties with the ISI chief; she said that she never received any security despite getting several threats. She said that despite ties with ISI, Ijaz was scared. (Awami Awaz, 22 January)

3. There are indications that Mansoor Ijaz may again postpone his Pakistan visit. Ijaz’s lawyer Akram Sheikh has said that as long as the government and the Army do not assure security cover, he would advice Ijaz to not visit Pakistan.  (Kawish, 22 January)

4. Jasarat editorial says the government is constantly creating obstacles in the working of the Memogate Commission.  It cautioned that the Commission’s probe should not be made controversial. Once the investigations of the Memogate commission are completed, forces in favour of the US and against Pakistan would stand exposed. (Jasarat Edit)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Former provincial president of ANP Begum Nasim Wali Khan said that Pakistan was formed in the name of democracy and not Islam. She accused the establishment of capturing the nation and promoting fundamentalism. She also alleged that the establishment had turned politicians into puppets. (Khabrain, Daily Pak)

2. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah said PPP will start its consultations with alliance parties for the general elections after the Senate polls take place. (Awami Awaz, 22 January)

3. The central committee of JI has demanded fresh elections. (Jasarat)

4. Sindh’s Interior Minister Manzoor Wasan has forecast that the general elections would be held on October 18th saying that often his predictions have come true. (Ibrat, 22 January)

5. PPP has offered 8 seats in the Senate to PML-Q but the ally is insisting on 10 seats. PPP feels acceding to the demand could upset its own aspirants. (Baad-e-Shimal, Khabrain)

6. Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood, a politician from Rahim Yar Khan, called on PML-Q leaders Shujaat Chaudhary and Pervez Elahi and conveyed PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s message to them. Sharif wanted to shake hands with the Chaudhary brothers about political changes in the country. The Chaudhary brothers responded by saying that they were ready for a patch-up with Sharif provided he gave an assurance that he would not ignore them publicly. The Chaudhary brothers do not trust Nawaz Sharif and see his message as just a ploy to lure PML-Q away from the ruling coalition. (Awami Awaz, 22 January)

7. PML-F leader Sardar Nawaz Khan Rand has joined PML-Q along with hundred associates. (Jinnah)

8. After SC suspended his license, PPP leader Babar Awan has gone silent. (Kawish)

9. In his recorded address to ex-service men, former president Musharraf has demanded that  elections be held under a caretaker government. He said that the two major parties had disappointed the people and that the third force should get an opportunity. (Ibrat, 22 January)

10. In his column, Hamid Mir writes that Musharraf should be allowed to return to Pakistan and face charges against him. Those trying to stop him from coming to Pakistan are afraid that he may disclose their names in the NRO and Lal Masjid cases. Mir says that Musharraf dared to come back to Pakistan despite all threats because he has been assured that the government and the judiciary will not be able to do anything against him and that he would get bail after which he would be able to join politics with help from political parties like MQM, PML-Q and PTI. The ‘Pakistan First’ forum has been formed by old Army cronies and hence, Musharraf should be given a chance to return to Pakistan. He says that anyone who tries to stop Musharraf would be an enemy of the law and constitution. (Jang)

11. Notification has been issued on Mansoor Ijaz’s security arrangements that will comprise police, Rangers, FC and Army soldiers; however, the notice does not specify the number of security officials that would be provided for Ijaz’s security. The notification merely states that the security teams will decide on the number of security officials needed. Meanwhile, NA’s National Security Committee is meeting today; the ISI chief and Hussain Haqqani will file their replies. So far, Ijaz has not contacted the Committee. (Kawish)

12. Jang editorial on PM Gilani’s Sargodha rally and his assertion that next parliamentary elections would be held only in March 2013 says, the PPP government has completed 80% of its term but failed to make a mark. It only increased the nation’s problems. A confrontation between institutions would not resolve Pakistan’s problems; instead, everyone should sit together and work out proper policies that could be implemented sincerely with the intention of saving Pakistan from disaster. (Jang Edit)

13. Daily Pak complains that the PM Gilani and PPP leader Manzoor Wasan have given contradictory statements regarding elections. While Gilani said that elections will take place on time in 2013, Wasan has said that 2012 will be the year of election. Edit says that leaders belonging to the same party should at least consult each other before issuing statements. (Daily Pak Edit)

14. Daily Intekhab says that if the PM of a democratic government has no right to remove the Director General of a department, it raises the question on supremacy of Parliament. PM has no need to give a written assurance that no action would be taken against the COAS and the ISI chief. The daily says Parliament is above all other institutions and hence, it has the right to amend laws whenever required in the nation’s interests. (Daily Intekhab Edit, 22 January)

15. Ummat editorial compliments CJP Iftekhar Muhammad Chaudhary for maintaining the respect of the judiciary. It agrees with Chaudhary’s statement that corruption is the main obstacle in the way of justice. Edit criticizes the government saying that it seems to put everything up for sale. (Ummat Edit)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1.Sources have indicated that NAB and FIE have stopped investigation into the tax refund scandal worth billions of rupees due to the involvement of big names including some FBR officials, and politicians. (Jang)

2. There are plans to raise the salaries of government staff by 20% in the budget. (Kawish)

3. Nawa-i-Waqt rubbishes Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif’s plan to food products to give a fillip to rural economy. Its editorial asks of him what food items Sharif would be exported when Punjab’s agriculture has been destroyed due to water crisis created by India. The daily says by building 56 dams over Kashmir’s rivers, India has attacked Pakistan with a water bomb. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

4. The water tank of the Naltar Power Station in Gilgit-Baltistan, built at a cost of Rs.40 crore and a guaranteed life of 35 years has developed cracks at its base. (Baad-e-Shimal)

SINDH
1.Sibgatullah Shah Pagara has been elected as the new PML-F chief after Pir Pagara. (Ibrat, 22 January)

2.MQM chief Altaf Hussain has said that the MQM doesn’t want to divide Sindh to carve out more provinces. He claimed that Sindhi nationalists who were working on foreign instructions were conspiring to split Sindh. Hussain said that if the Sindhi nationalist leaders don’t want Saraiki and Hazara provinces, they should be clearly say so. (Kawish, 22 January)

3.Sindh Bachao Committee has given a call for a strike on 28 January against ‘MQM’s conspiracy to spilt Sindh into more provinces’.  (Ibrat, 22 January, Daily Intekhab, 22 January)

4.Mohajir Quami Movement chief Afaq Ahmad has said that he was ready for talks with MQM leaders for peace in Karachi as he had talked with other parties as well. MQM was actively promoting gun-culture in the Karachi University and that he wanted politics to be kept free of such a culture. Ahmad said that if Hussain really wanted peace in Karachi, he would play a role in cleansing Karachi of weapons. (Ibrat)

PUNJAB
1.Industries in Punjab will be provided gas for 2 days in a week from today. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Daily Pak)

BALOCHISTAN
1.Militants have blown up a gas pipeline near Jaffarabad. Due to this, gas supply to Sindh has been suspended. (Kawish)

POK NEWS
1.J&K Democratic Movement Chairman Engr. Noor Ahsan Gilani said that problems in Pakistan’s democratic process would affect the cause of Kashmir freedom. (Daily Dharti)

2.AJK’s former President Raja Zul Qarnain said that a safe and secure Pakistan was a guarantor of the success of the Kashmir freedom movement. He urged Pakistani and Kashmiri leaders to forget their differences and show unity. (Jinnah)

3.Daily Dharti edit is on the contempt of court notice issued by the AJK Supreme Court to the government for not complying with the stay orders on special appointments to key govt posts. The daily asks the AJK government not to confront the judiciary. (Daily Dharti Edit)

G-B NEWS
1.Speaking to ‘Ausaf’, a social worker in Gilgit-Baltistan, Rubina Aslam said that the current chaos, anger and target killings could be extremely dangerous and therefore the civil society leaders should play an active role to reduce sectarian hatred. She said that the government should take practical steps to end corruption, lawlessness and unemployment. (Ausaf, 22 January)

2.General Manager of Mohsin Industries (Gilgit-Baltistan) Colonel (Retd) Karim said that Mohsin Industries is ready for making more investment in Gilgit-Baltistan. Speaking to ‘Ausaf’, he said that their monthly wage bill in G-B is more than Rs 35 lakh in salaries.  (Ausaf, 22 January)