IRAN PIPELINE
1.Columnist Syed Yasub-ud-deen writes that the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline was important in many aspects as Iran was the first country that had accepted Pakistan’s existence and even allowed Pakistan to use its soil during 1965 and 1971 wars and this project would bring the two allies closer. Yasub further says that with the IP Gas Project the world would now know that Pakistan has the guts to take its own decisions without caring for the US. (Bang-e-Sahar)
INDIA
1. Saudi Government has rejected India’s request to increase the Hajj pilgrimage quota by 1 lakh. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Baad-e-Shimal)
2.Pakistan’s High Commission invited Hurriyat Conference leaders to New Delhi on the event of Pakistan Day. This program will be held on 22nd March instead of 23rd March. APHC chairman Mirwaiz Omer Farooq said that on account of prevailing conditions, he will not attend the program but a Hurriyat delegation will attend. Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Omer Farooq, Professor Abdul Ghani Butt, Bilal Ghani Lon, Mukhtar Ahmad Waz and others received invitations. (Daily Dharti)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Ghaffar Zakri has taken the place of slain gangster Arshad Pappu and planned to avenge his death by taking on the Baba Ladla and Abdur Rahman groups. Zakri reportedly invited terrorists from Hab, Sakran and Wandar to join him. As a result of murder of Arshad Pappu, tension and gang wars will intensify in Lyari. (Ummat)
2. Sipah-e-Sahaba leader and Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamat Central Vice President Malik Ishaq has been shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore from District Jail Rahim Yar Khan. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
3. Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahebzada Fazl-e-Karim said that talks with the Taliban would be akin to encouraging them and without accepting the national constitution, talks could not be conducted. He added that the guarantors named by the Taliban should first convince them to drop their arms and conducting talks without the inclusion of the Army would be meaningless. Al-Markaz Al-Islami Principal Mufti Haseeb Qadri said that talks with Taliban would be a betrayal with the blood of martyrs and the nation unless they drop their arms. He added that this was a very sensitive decision and hence all political and religious parties should be taken into confidence first. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
4. Law-enforcement agencies have intensified efforts to arrest LeJ chief operational commander, Muti ur Rahman affiliated to Al-Qaida. (Jang)
5. Nawa-i-Waqt has condemned the attack on the Judicial Complex in Peshawar by the Taliban and said militants did not deserve any sympathy and should be dealt with iron hands. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1.A delegation of JI led by JI Chief Syed Munawar Hasan called on the visiting President of Egypt Dr Muhammad Morsi at the hotel he was staying in Islamabad. The delegation comprised Vice President Prof Khurshid Ahmed, Secretary Gen Liyaqat Baloch, and Director JI Foreign Affairs Abdul Gaffar. Morsi told them that there would be no peace in the region till the issues of Palestine and Kashmir resolved. (Jasarat)
2. Chief of Awami Jamhuri Party Talal Bugti stated while speaking with ‘Ummat’ that proud Pakistanis will avenge the injustice done by former President Pervez Musharraf once he returns to Pakistan. Bugti alleged that Musharraf had supplied arms in large quantity to MQM when he was in power. (Ummat)
3. 90% of women in Pakistan did not come out of their homes to cast their votes and their turnout remained less than 10% as women were not allowed to vote in many areas. In areas like Balochistan, KP and FATA it was being announced that women would not go out to cast their votes. (Daily Pak)
4. On removing Justice (rtd) Shakirullah’s name from the list of caretaker PMs, differences have cropped up between JuI (F) and PML-N and they may not have seat adjustment in the coming election. Other political parties including PPP have begun contacting Fazlur Rahman. (Daily Dunya)
5. Rauf Nazamani makes out a case for a change in PML (N)’s policies regarding militancy given the current climate in Pakistan. (Awami Awaz)
6. Jasarat wrote an edit on instructions issued by the Secretary of the Cabinet Division to Federal Ministers and Advisors over returning amenities provided to them including vehicles. It is shameful that the ministers and other important functionary of government need to be told to return the official paraphernalia including cars at the end of their term. (Jasarat Edit)
7. Khabrain says credit for PPP government completing its term goes not to president Zardari but to COAS Gen. Kayani and even PML-N which played the role of friendly opposition. (Khabrain Edit)
ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. According to AJK private power cell director Gen. Farooq Haider, with the help of private sector, an 80 MW watt project has been taken up in Mirpur. Two major hydropower projects in Muzaffarabad Patrand and Neelum-Jhelum Hydro projects had reached the final stage. He added that the Patrand project is under the construction with the help of a Korean company. (Daily Dharti)
2. IRSA’s technical committee is meeting on March 25th to assess water availability for the kharif season beginning from April 1. Right now, there is 1.3 MAF water in dams with just 10 days left for the end of the rabi season. (Kawish)
SINDH
1. Indications are that retired justice, Deedar Hussain Shah will become the caretaker CM of Sindh. PML-F, however, is planning to protest this decision while MQM has indicated its consent. (Awami Awaz)
2. Ibrat editorially said that the defection of Nabil Gabol from PPP to MQM will affect both parties in the coming election. (Ibrat Edit)
3. Jasarat edit on the murder of a gangster Arshad Pappu and his brother in Lyari says that 100 serious cases were against Pappu and a Rs. 30 lakh bounty was on his head but the police have still not been able to recover the bodies of the duo. If these bodies are not found, how can murderers be arrested and punished? (Jasarat Edit)
POK/ G-B NEWS
1.GB Provincial Information Minister Dr. Ali Madad Sher said that a decision about imposing tax on NCP vehicles would be taken by the Provincial Cabinet and not the FBR. He added that more teachers appointed illegally would be removed as the government was ready to face the court. (Bang-e-Sahar, Baad-e-Shimal)
2. CM Mehdi Ali Shah said that the federation should give the income generated from sales tax to GB for overcoming its financial crisis. He added that the establishment of a Police Training College in Gilgit and Police Training School in Skardu would improve the police force. (Bang-e-Sahar)
3. Bang-e-Sahar says CM Mehdi Shah and his government for getting fame by being infamous. PML-N Chief in GB Hafeez-ur-Rahman has rightly said that every minister in Mehdi Shah’s government will have to give an account of their corruption and no one would be spared. Edit says 1.8million people of GB wanted representatives who would sincerely work for their welfare. If some big crocodiles were arrested and brought to justice, the process of bringing a change would also begin. (Bang-e-Sahar Edit)
