INDIA
1. India has prepared designs for 11 more electricity projects on the Sindh and Chenab Rivers in violation of the Sindh Water Treaty to meet its power demand. Nine of these projects will be on Sindh and two will be constructed on the Chenab River and together these projects will generate 2735 MW affecting irrigation and power sectors of Pakistan. Former Indus Water Commissioner Jamat Ali Shah had not informed the concerned officials about the Nimoo Bazgo project and hence India completed 95% work on this project. Arshad Abbasi, an energy expert, has demanded that PM Gilani take action against the officials who have demonstrated negligence with regard to the Nimoo Bazgo project. (Ausaf, 26 January)

2. In an exclusive interview to Ausaf, Syed Salahuddin, chief of Muttahida Jihad Council, said that the Pakistan government has taken the decision to give the MFN status to India but due to pressure from the Army, it has not announced it. He said that Mujahideen are capable of breaking Indian dams and fences erected on the LoC; he stated that Kashmir was not a political matter for Pakistan but a defence issue. Salahuddin said that the existence of Pakistan will be threatened if anybody compromises on the Kashmir issue, atomic program and missile technology. Salahuddin alleged that India was openly involved in Balochistan and tribal areas and stated that negotiations will be meaningful when all parties will participate in it including the people of Kashmir. He stated that for the success of negotiations, Kashmir will have to be made the main agenda. (Ausaf, 26 January)

3. Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial has opposed gas import from India. It severely criticised Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Husain for saying that though Pakistan will not take gas from Iran though an agreement has been signed with Tehran. Edit states that the best option to tackle Pakistan’s severe gas crisis is to utilize its own resources of Thar coal and hydel projects. Since these projects are not ready Pakistan has to depend on imports. Instead of taking gas from Iran, depending on India will be harming its own interests. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

4. AJK PM Barrister Sultan has told the Japanese Envoy that his country can play a role in solving the Kashmir issue since it has a good relationship with India and Pakistan. (Jinnah)

UNITED STATES
Ausaf writes that the issue of reconciliation in Afghanistan and its effect on stability and peace in the region was discussed when PM Gilani, COAS Gen Kayani, DG ISI Shuja Pasha and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar met; they also decided that national interests will be given priority in relations with NATO and America. Edit writes that the nation was behind the political and military leadership over its stand against NATO supply. (Ausaf Edit, 26 January)

Daily Intekhab discusses American magazine Newsweek that said Pakistan has a shadow state and despite troubled relations post-Abbotabad incident, US has continued backdoor cooperation. Edit writes it was ridiculous to call a sovereign state a colony and it showed America’s autocratic attitude. Edit writes that after the Salala Airbase attack, Pakistan took a strong stand against America and NATO. If Pakistan continued to respect its own sovereignty, no one would dare to eye Pakistan. (Daily Intekhab Edit)

DEFENCE/ARMY
1. Army chief Gen. Kayani has refused to attend Musharraf’s call with regard to his return to Pakistan. The former president has been sent a message to settle his own issues. Further, Mullah Omar has refused dialogues with the US without including Pakistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Saadi writes that soon his group will have a 40 day campaign of ‘dawat and membership’. (Al Qalam Weekly, 27 January-2 February)

2. Dafa-e-Pakistan Council Secretary Information, Chairman Aman Committee Allama Pir Syed Izhar Bhukahri has said the process of holding Dafa-e-Pakistan’s conference across the country would be continued.  He said unity of the Pakistani community is a guarantor of Pakistan’s stability. He said there is no threat to Islam and together they will defend the country. (Jinnah)

PAK SCENE- MEMOGATE
1. Diplomatic sources, CIA and FBI officials contacted American Pakistani business man involved in the Memogate Mansoor Ijaz and stopped him from coming to Pakistan for recording his evidence, TV reports said. An association of Pakistanis in US ‘Apna’ was pressurizing Mansoor Ijaz to go to Pakistan and record his statement. The group has threatened him to slap a case for USD 52 billion in compensation. (Jasarat)

2. Asma Jehangir said that it is no ordinary matter that the Army Chief and ISI Chief have said in their statement that Husain Haqqani has written the memo note on Zardari’s insistence. Speaking to a TV channel, she said that it need not be expected that the ISI Chief and DG Military intelligence will appear before court in connection with the case of missing persons. She said that the Army thinks that the country belongs to them and the rest in country are anti-nationals. She said she does not believe the differences between army and government are over. (Ibrat)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. MQM leader, Amir Khan, in a TV show, said that the ISI had launched him and Afaq Ahmed in order to weaken Altaf Husain’s party. He added that he and Afaq Ahmed supported ISI in operations during 1992. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. Safdar Abbasi, senior PPP senator, stated that like in past, the PM has succumbed to pressure and taken back his statements against the Army Chief and ISI Chief. Safdar said though the PM has taken a u-turn, conditions are increasingly becoming uncontrollable. (Awami Awaz)

3. Irfan Siddiqui, in his column, welcomes the Senate’s resolution to arrest Pervez Musharraf as soon as he lands in Pakistan. The columnist says he personally wants Musharraf to be tried and justice to win. (Jang)

4. Ummat edit asks PM Gilani to stop his hypocrisy as he withdrew his previous statement against the Army and ISI Chiefs in the Memo case. He should stop confrontations with the Army and Judiciary and let the democratic process unfold. (Ummat Edit)

5. Daily Pak edit says that at various times, the Prime Minster has openly criticized the Army and then changed his statements. (Daily Pak Edit)

PUNJAB
Punjab Government has issued orders for the transfer and retirement of 14 officers. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

SINDH
1. PML-N Sindh president, Syed Ghaus Ali Shah announced support to Sindh Bachao Tehreek’s strike. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. Sind Tarqui Pasand’s Qadir Magsi has said Sindhis will unite for the defeat of the bill. (Awami Awaz)

3. Sub-committees of the Sindh Bachao Committee met in Hyderabad to chalk out a strategy for success of tomorrow’s strike. The organisers allege that PPP is a traitor of Sindh and is now conspiring with MQM against Sindh’s interests. Some members of constituent groups of the Sindh Bachao Committee protested and took dharnas in front of the residences of PPP leaders and ministers in parts of Sindh. (Awami Awaz)

4. Jiye Sindh Quami Mahaz’s Bashir Qureshi says Sindh had joined of Pakistan not to get spilt at the hands of opportunists and terror outfits. (Awami Awaz)

5. Sindh Minister for Local Bodies said in the Sindh Assembly that if alliance parties agree on the new material for local bodies, local body polls can take place in 90 days. (Awami Awaz)

6. The World Bank has warned Sindh that continuing instalments of Rs. 17.5 crore aid will be affected if appointments and transfers in Sindh’s SIDA are made on terms and conditions on other than agreed patterns. The WB has written a letter along these lines to Sindh’s Irrigation
Minister and Irrigation Secretary; the letter said the World Bank has come to know about the likely change of SIDA’s managing director. It reminded the Sindh minister that both sides had agreed to make MD appointments through competitive process. (Awami Awaz)

7. Ghinwa Bhutto, chairperson, PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) said there is no provision in the constitution for more provinces on the basis of administrative considerations. (Ibrat)

8. Jasarat and Jang editorials say target killings have once again have started in Karachi. Now lawyers who are fighting cases of activists of defunct organizations have been targeted. In the current month 8 lawyers have been killed. Quoting Human Rights Watch’s report, the edits say the ruling parties were also involved in target killing; if lawyers become targets then the situation is very serious. (Jasarat Edit, Jang Edit)

9. Nawa-i-Waqt edit on fresh target killings laments that once again terrorists have become powerful in Karachi. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

POK NEWS
1. Daily Dharti editorial on distribution of Kashmir Council Funds says these funds to commercial projects are awarded without any consultation with the Council members. It asks the government to stop the misuse of funds. (Daily Dharti Edit)

G-B NEWS
1. People of Upper Basin (Gilgit Baltistan) have said that they are deprived of basic amenities like roads, health care and medicines. (Ausaf, 26 January)

2. GB government has suspended 7 staff members including Asst. Commissioner, Diamer district for committing fraud and taking illegal commissions worth crores during the preparation of Award Commission of Thor village. (Baad-e-Shimal)

3. Baad-e-Shimal laments that the project to make GB airports all weather friendly has been sacrificed to red tape. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)