TURKEY
1. JI Chief Sayyed Munawar Hassan met the leader of Muslim Brotherhood Dr Muhammad Badhi in Ankara and both talked on the current situation in Egypt and Bangladesh along with bilateral issues. Dr Muhammad Badhi expressed concern over the situation in Karachi. (Jasarat)
.
AFGHANISTAN
1. Investigation Committee of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) says that more than 40000 containers which had been sent across the Afghan borders didn’t cross the borders at all and material worth trillions was sold in national markets; this has resulted in a loss of Rs. 64 billion on the national treasury. FBR report presented in the SC stated that 34000 containers had disappeared resulting in losses of Rs. 73.54 billion to the nation under the tax category. Sources claimed that out of the 40000 containers, 28,200 were meant for trade purposes. 6000 containers had American goods, whereas more than 3500 containers had ISAF goods. FBR has, either deliberately or otherwise, not presented the case of the missing 6000 containers in its report to the SC. The title of this report claims that 6000 missing containers had American weapons and that this report was suppressed by FBR officials. This report states that the SC will shift this case within days to the Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr Shoaib Suddle. (Ummat)
2.Political and religious leaders have condemned Hamid Karzai’s anti-Pakistan statements and have asked him to pressurize India instead to close down its terrorist camps. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
3. Editorials in Daily Pak and Nawa-i-Waqt say that Afghan President Hamid Karzai lived in India for many years and hence, he has some of India’s attitude as well. This is why Karzai talks against Pakistan every now and then. Pakistan should take a strong stand against Karzai’s ‘Indian colours’. Karzai fears that he will lose his seat after withdrawal of NATO forces; hence, by levelling such allegations against Pakistan, Karzai was trying to find an excuse to postpone NATO’s departure. (Daily Pak Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
INDIA
1. President of Kissan Board Sardar Zafar Hussein Khan expressed concern over the statement given by Chamber of Commerce Member Trade Committee that the government had spent Rs. 39 billion for vegetable import from India and that vegetables comprised 38% of total imports from India. He added that it was a point of worry for agricultural experts, policy makers and government authorities that despite being an agricultural country, Pakistan spent a considerable amount over the import of agri products. Sardar Zafar added that the condition of farmers and the agriculture could have improved with half of the money spent on imports. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
UNITED STATES
1. In his column, Munir Ahmed Baloch laments the death of thousands of Pakistanis in terrorist strikes across Pakistan every day. He comments that Pakistan had become a battleground for the US, UK, India, Iran and Arab countries. Baloch writes that in Balochistan, terrorists were being supported and financed by the US, and India while some Muslim countries were busy killing Army, FC and Punjabis, Pashtuns and Hazara tribals who support Pakistan. As a result, many Pakistanis were forced to take refuge in other countries. Baloch writes that one Gulf country had become an important US base today and that Al-Jazeera TV channel runs under the US and UK’s influence. It is no more a secret that today Balochistan was on the hit-list of international powers; he says that LeJ and another religious sect in Pakistan enjoy financial, moral and political support from some Gulf countries for halting Iran’s influence in this region. Baloch writes that US State Department’s National Endowment, in the name of democracy and human rights, was providing full support to the Balochistan Institute for Development which was working under Pakistan’s biggest enemy Zalme Khalil Zade. (Roznama Duniya)
DEFENCE
1. Commander Tassawur Iqbal of the Navyhas been appointed as the PM’s Deputy Military Secretary (DMS), in place of Air Force’s Group Captain Vaqar Ahmed, who has been promoted to Grade 20 in the PM secretariat. (Jang)
2.Former Sri Lankan Army Chief V Surya, in an interview, offered help to Pakistan in war against terrorism. (Daily Dharti)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. TTP has released a video showing the killing and beheading of 6 Pakistani soldiers. The focus of the video is Taliban clashing against the Pakistan Army in South Waziristan. The video has been released soon after JUI-F APC which supported dialogue with Taliban and urged the government for a positive response to talks with TTP. (Jang)
2. Lal Masjid Imam Maulana Abdul Aziz has termed the fatwa to kill Musharraf as valid. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
3. JI Secretary General Liyaqat Baloch claimed that forces which want to destabilize Pakistan and want to prove Pakistan a failed state, have stepped up their activities. He said that terrorist incidents in Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar have exposed that the government and secret agencies have failed. Baloch said that if the SC decision is not implemented in Karachi, it will be a serious blow to the democratic process. (Jasarat)
3.Former Chief of Pakistan Army Gen. (Retd) Mirza Aslam Beg said that the Pakistan government should lift the ban on terrorist outfits and then invite them for talks. He claimed that the US was supervising terrorists and sectarianism in Pakistan. Beg said that there was no threat of bloodshed during elections. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
4.Speaking in the provincial assembly, ANP MNA Himayatullah Mayar said that if militants could take control of Swat, Islamabad could also be within their reach. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
5.Baad-e-Shimal has editorially said the government should ensure safety of the Shia community and deal the culprits with iron hands. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Sources have said that Musharraf has obtained a green signal from the establishment and will return to Pakistan on 17th March. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. PPP and PML-N have agreed on NA’s and provincial assemblies’ dissolution on the same day. . They have also agreed to holding of general elections on the same day. As per backchannel contacts between PPP and PML-N, the dissolution will take place on 16th March. The term of NA ends on 16th March, while that of Punjab Assembly on 8th April, Balochistan Assembly on 6th April and KP Assembly on 27th March. (Jinnah, Khabrain)
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Consultations on the KP caretaker set-up have reached its final stage. Mohsin Aziz has become a strong contender for the post of CM. Awami National Party, Peoples’ Party and opposition parties have come close to finalize consultations and negotiations for the KP set-up. The set-up may be announced on 16th or 17th March. (Jinnah)
SINDH
1. Tensions with Shia organization may affect MQM’s vote banks in Karachi; it may lose 6 NA seats. If Shia leaders wanted, 70% of Shia votes to MQM will be cut off. (Ummat)
2.Editorials in Ummat and Khabrain on post- Abbas Town blast situation say writes that media coverage has become a cause for unrest and fear Police are silent spectator during protests and violence after these blasts. It seems that MQM wanted to use this incident just like it had tried to use the Quetta blast. Federal Interior Minister Rahman Malik has accused LeJ for these blasts and said LeJ was operating from its Hqrs in Punjab. Pakistan’s security agencies were protecting feudal lords, capitalists and bureaucrats. (Ummat Edit, Khabrain Edit)
3. MQM Rabta Committee is meeting today to take stock of the situation arising from the lack of arrests of the militants behind the Abbas Town blasts, MQM will announce its strategy for its future course of action today. The Rabta Committee’s meetings were held simultaneously yesterday in Karachi and London and were highly critical of the government for the lack of action against these militants. (Kawish)
4.Central Secretary for Information of ASWJ Allama Aurangzeb Farooqi claimed that some media institutions were making deliberate efforts to create a front against ASWJ. He said that such biased people brought bad name to journalism. Farooqi claimed that anti-Pakistan and anti-Islam forces were behind the Abbas Town, Karachi blast and stated that Police in some areas have called up ASWJ activists and registered cases against them. He said that this will deteriorate the situation further. (Ummat)
5.Under SC and High Court orders, a large-scale operation has been initiated in Mirpur Khas Police. 6 policemen have been dismissed, 21 others suspended; massive transfers are ordered in 10 police stations. (Jang)
BALOCHISTAN
1. PPP Balochistan former President Nawab Lashkari Raeesani with his 22 associates have announced joining PML-N. (Khabrain)
2. In an interview to a private TV channel, Khan of Qalat Suleiman Dawood Khan said that the Baloch people had nothing to do with the decision of handing over Gwadar Port to China and the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline agreement and that they reject it. Khan claimed that this was a design of Punjabi imperialism and Pakistan Army as they wanted to occupy Balochistan. Khan said that Islamabad wanted to impose its decision upon them, which was not acceptable. He claimed that certain areas of Balochistan had been included into Punjab, which should be returned to Balochistan. Khan says that if the Pashtun wanted to join KP or Afghanistan or have a separate province, they have no objections to it. Khan said that only the Balochis has rights on Balochistan which they will never give up. He said that he had no contact with Sardar Akhtar Mengal and stated that sometimes, indirect contact took place with certain nationalist parties. Khan said that he will soon come to Balochistan and states that many nationalist parties took part in elections despite the boycott of elections. Khan said that even if the National Party and BNP contested elections together and came to power, they will not resolve issues of the Baloch people. He alleged that many intellectuals were on government payroll and that Islamabad had made plans to control Balochistan’s land. He claimed that Nawab Aslam Raeesani, Nawab Zulfiqar Mirza and Sardar Sanullah Zehri had decided to support them during the Qalat Jirga but now they were a part of the government. Khan claimed that many countries had contracted them to know their stance on Balochistan and that they had given a complete briefing about their stance. He said that they were not disappointed with the US, EU and UN and they will continue their struggle. He claimed that they did not trust Punjab and establishment and stated that currently in Balochistan, a war between Iran and Saudi Arabia was going on. He said that the FC has check-posts in Hazara town, then how could a 1000 kilogramme explosive reach here without a deliberate design. (Daily Intekhab)
3. JI (Balochistan) Vice President Zahid Akbar Baloch said that Balochistan is currently passing through the worst phase. Baloch says that there were no Shia-Sunni clashes in Balochistan but international criminals have continued fighting in Balochistan due to the inability of leaders. Baloch said that there were threats to ideological and geographical borders. (Daily Intekhab)
POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Gilgit-Baltistan government has decided to revive the Gilgit-Baltistan Electricity Board and Ahsan Maqbool has been appointed as its first MD. Gilgit-Baltistan Electricity Board could only work for policymaking under the Gilgit-Baltistan Council. (Baad-e-Shimal)
2. AJK government has decreed that government schools teachers should not sent their children to private schools. As per a survey conducted by an NGO, in urban areas, 99% of teachers’ children study in private schools and 90% of teachers send their children to private schools in rural areas. This was the reason for there being more teachers than students in government schools. Hence, teachers of government schools have been asked to send their children to government schools compulsorily. (Daily Dharti)
3. Political advisor to AJK PM Hafiz Saghir Khan and Presidential Coordinator for Overseas Tariq Anwar have submitted their resignations on account of Union Council Pakhar being neglected in education, construction and development sectors. (Daily Dharti)
