2. 1. Nawa-i-Waqt says majority of Pakistanis are not in favour of India joining Iran-Pakistan pipeline project and hence, the authorities should simply reject India’s request to allow it to join the venture.  (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

AFGHANISTAN
1.Taliban have started ‘operation spring’ from Zabil in Afghanistan. Taliban have carried out a well-planned attack in the Faryaab province and have got control of many areas. They have killed 9 commandoes and 47 Afghan forces. Overall, 154 allied forces have been killed by Taliban. 50 US helicopters have been affected by snowfall in Kandahar. (Al Qalam Weekly, 3 May to 9 May)

INDIA
1. Columnist Naji is critical of the attack on Sarabjit Singh and says that no one would believe that one prisoner was attacked by other prisoners in the jail. After this incident, the state of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails will be worse. The good relations that Pakistan has established with Sikhs over decades will be tarnished. (Roznama Duniya)

2. Ummat editorially commenting on Sarabjit Singh episode says India and Pakistan should not make punishment awarded to terrorists an issue of politics as it could affect bilateral relations. (Ummat Edit)

3. Roznama Duniya has criticised Lahore jail inmates who attacked Sarabjit Singh and said since he was to be punished under the law of the land, extremist elements should not have taken law into their own hands. (Roznama Duniya Edit)

4. Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial on  US Deputy Secretary of State’s call to India and Pakistan to stop proliferation of atomic weapons and their missile programmes, says India forced Pakistan to become a nuclear nation and hence, until India stopped its aggressive policies and resolved Kashmir and water issues with Pakistan, peace could not be restored in South Asia. Edit says that India has attacked Pakistan twice and hence, Pakistan was compelled to get the nuclear weapons, and purchase more and more nuclear weapons for self-defence. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

DEFENCE
1. In his column, Nazir Naji says Gen. Kayani’s address on Martyrs’ Day has given a clear message that if the situation reaches beyond repair, the army will not hesitate to step in. He says Kayani has clearly asked Taliban to accept Pakistan’s Constitution in order to join the national mainstream, and only then could talks be held with them. Parties that follow the Army’s thinking are being attacked, and parties that are willing to make a deal with Taliban are left free for election campaigning.
 (Roznama Duniya)

2. JI Chief Syed Munawar Hassan has advised COAS Gen. Kayani not to call the US-led war against the Islamic world as ‘our own war’. He said that this war was not Pakistan’s war and stated that Musharraf had forced it upon Pakistan He said that the continuing terrorism, poverty, inflation and unemployment rampant in today’s Pakistan were a gift of this war against terrorism. (Jasarat, Khabrain)

3. Ausaf edit on Kayani’s speech on Martyr’s Day and his views on elections, says he has played a responsible role for encouraging democracy. It blames Pakistani politicians saying they gave priority to their vested interests. Before joining politics, many of them were poor but today they have become owners of mills and industries. Edit urges Pakistani community and politicians to play a responsible role, similar to Pakistan’s armed forces. (Ausaf Edit, 2 May)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. TTP has issued a new video on the Abbottabad operation that killed Osama Bin Laden. It says that Laden created awareness amongst the Muslim community and mutilated America’s pride. TTP spokesperson vowed to continue Bin Laden’s mission. They have also announced continuing jihad against PPP, ANP and MQM. (Bang-e-Sahar, Nawa-i-Waqt, Roznama Duniya)

2. TTP has issued warning to ANP and PPP through pamphlets, to remove party banners, posters and party flags from their houses within a week. Otherwise their homes would be bombed and the people putting up the banners would be kidnapped and beheaded. (Jang, Awami Awaz)

3. In Khuzdar, unknown armed persons used rocket launchers to attack the home of Mir Abdul Latif Mengal, a BNP leader, and a candidate of NA-269. His personal guards returned fire; no one was injured in the incident. (Daily Intekhab)

4. Addressing an election rally, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman has appealed to TTP to stop targeting candidates and activists of PPP, MQM and ANP. He said that these parties have lost their ground to form the next government and hence they have no political importance. (Baad-e-Shimal, Jang, Urdupoint, Roznama Duniya)

5. An alleged suicide bomber has been arrested from Ratodero, Sindh, and materials used for making bombs were seized from him. (Jang, Kawish)

6. Security agencies claim to have foiled terror bids in Balochistan and KP. Sources say that one bomb was planted outside the election office of an ANP candidate in Peshawar. Security officials raided a place in Mazafai and seized ammunition in large quantity, and other explosives; they also arrested 2 terror elements. Police found some pamphlets and other incriminating documents. (Kawish)

7. Interim Interior Minister has revealed that a terrorist group has made a plan to kidnap Musharraf; however, the government will foil this conspiracy and Musharraf will be shifted from the sub-jail. (Jang, Urdupoint, Roznama Duniya)

8. Primary and middle schools where polling stations are to be set up have been destroyed in a blast in Quetta. So far no one has accepted the responsibility. (Roznama Duniya)

9. Commenting on an international survey on people’s opinion about Islamic laws, Naved Masood Hashmi writes according to the survey, Muslims in Islamic nations wanted Sharia. It is the attraction of Islam that crores of Muslims had migrated to Pakistan in 1947. He writes that at that time, Muslims wanted Sharia. He alleges that secular leaders were fraudsters and says they had damaged Pakistan. Hashmi laments that there is no place for mujahideen in Pakistan. He criticizes secular Muslims for temporarily turning to the religion for vested interests on issues like divorce, and marriage. (Ausaf, 2 May)
 
10. Roznama Duniya says security plan made by Election Commission for elections is practical but in view of the current law and order situation, more stringent arrangements are required. (Roznama Duniya Edit)

11. Ibrat says that terrorist attacks have been taking place in northern Sindh for about a year; this gives a distinct impression that after creating havoc at other places in Pakistan, fundamentalist elements are now heading for Sindh. It laments that Sindh is already replete with Kabila clashes and ethnic rows. It says that the education system in Sindh is in shambles; agriculture has also not been in its best form. It laments that there hasn’t been any development in Sindh for a long time. It says that militancy has become a new wave; and according to trends, militancy is more rampant in rural areas than in urban areas. (Ibrat Edit)

12. According to a report, Al Rahmat Trust’s Department of Tabligh (Propagation of Ideology) has continued the session in which number of participant are increasing.  Due to these programmes, the atmosphere is becoming conducive for Kalima, Namaz and jihad. Last week, the Department of Tabligh organized a programme at Bhimer, AJK, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan division, Sibi division, tehsil Gujrat and Bahawalpur. The Department of Tabligh organized a massive ‘Sirat Imam-ul-Mujahideen Conference’ in which Maulana Ata Sukharvi and Mufti Owais Khan Kashmiri delivered lectures on the topic of jihad. For the first time at the Jamia Masjid Bada Burghzali, the ‘Ghazwat-e-Nabi Conference’ was held in which Ulema spoke about the responsibility towards jihad. (Al Qalam Weekly, 3 May to 9 May)

13. Speaking with the administration of ‘Al Murabitun’ (Punjab) at Markaz Osman- o- Ali, Bahawalpur, Mufti Abdur Rauf Asghar  said it is every person’s responsibility to work for religion and jihad, whether that person is a doctor or engineer. He said that educated people from contemporary education backgrounds should not spend their energy for non-believers. Rauf said that if non-believers are kneeling down today, it is only because of the sacrifice of martyrs.  (Al Qalam Weekly, 3 May to 9 May)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1.It is very clear that no party will be in a position to from government.  The establishment thinks that under the current crisis, a government willing to settle matters with it would be suitable. Hence, it would require a government which is not politically very strong but would depend on the establishment. Pakistani and international media has given an impression that in the coming elections, PML-N will win  majority votes, but will not get enough votes to form government; will need the support of coalition parties. The Establishment will want to settle matters between PML-N and PPP like earlier, or else it could be between PPP and PTI. (Roznama Duniya)

2. Talking to the FIA joint investigation team, Musharraf revealed the existence of a treaty with Benazir Bhutto before the 2008 elections; he said its guarantors were some important nations and personalities. He said that as per this treaty, Benazir had to return to Pakistan after the elections, but she violated the treaty. He also revealed former Interior Minister Rehman Malik was a go between with Benazir Bhutto but did not give the names of guarantor nations and personalities. (Khabrain)

3. Nawaz Sharif said that if PML-N came to power, militant wings of all parties would be disbanded. (Jinnah, Daily Intekhab)

4. PTI chief Imran Khan has said that Zardari had purchased politicians like cattle. He said that the politics of police, courts and administration will end. (Jinnah)

5. JI (Karachi) chief Muhammad Hussain Mehnati has alleged that there was a conspiracy to postpone elections. On May 5th, a massive rally will be organized in Bagh-e-Jinnah in which JI Chief Syed Munawar Hassan and nuclear scientist AQ Khan will speak. Mehnati alleged that in Karachi, the EC was working at the behest of PPP and its former allies. (Jasarat)

6. A scam of crores of rupees in the Jamshoro Thermal Power plant set up with US Aid has come to light. When this plant was run, it was found that all the machinery and material are not working due to government’s neglect. The plant was set up at a cost of Rs. 2 billion. (Urdupoint)

7. Nawa-i-Waqt says that a perception in the media is that the establishment and the interim government are planning to give a safe passage to Musharraf out of Pakistan. America has clearly rejected reports of its delegates meeting Musharraf in the sub-jail; it would better if he faces all cases against him. Edit says that the judiciary should let the truth prevail. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. Flow of water from Tarbela Dam has reduced by 10,000 cusecs; it would aggravate the electricity crisis. (Baad-e-Shimal, Daily Pak)

2. Despite 3 reminders, Punjab-chairman ruled IRSA has increased water supply to Punjab at the cost of Sindh’s water which has caused 32% water deficit in Sindh; this will affect Kharif sowings in the province leading to huge agricultural losses. Sindh has sent another letter to IRSA pointing out repeated violations of the 1991 water treaty. This letter says that while the Tarbela water levels are at their lowest, Mangla is being kept filled to the brim. This letter also says that the water shortfall in Sindh’s canals is touching 32% and it is going to increase in the days to come. It says that this had led to protests from farmers and hence, it has demanded more waters being given to Sindh from Tarbela. (Awami Awaz)

3. Sindh Secretary has expressed concern over farmers taking to sit-ins on railway tracks and national highways protesting against water deficits being faced by them. The Secretary has questioned why the administration or the Police officials do not hold talks with agitating farmers. (Awami Awaz)

4.Jang editorial expresses concern over the deteriorating economic conditions, and says that the caretaker government should not leave the matter for the next government. Like the ECP which has settled many thorny issues in consultation with political parties, the caretaker government should do the same with the economic issues. (Jang Edit)

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman has expressed distrust in KP Governor Engr. Shaukatullah and has demanded his immediate resignation. (Bang-e-Sahar, Baad-e-Shimal)

2. 90% of businessmen of Peshawar have supported PML-N. They said that Sharif’s economic policies were in Pakistan’s interests. (Ummat)

SINDH
1. MQM terrorists have reportedly burnt down the house of a leader of Mohajir Quami Movement in Mahmoodabad. MQM terrorists did not allow the fire brigade and Police to reach the site of the burning house. (Ummat)

2. Addressing a function at the Central Jail, Caretaker CM Justice (Retd) Zahid Alwi said that 2008 acres have been acquired in Badin to set up an open jail where prisoners will be trained for skills.
 (Jang)

3. In view of attacks on political offices and suicide attacks, Police is put on high alert in Sukkur. (Jang)

PUNJAB
1. Punjab government is not providing security to Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Shujaat Hussain and several others. Their names figure in the list of targeted people that the federal interior minister gave to the Punjab government but there has been no response. Some foreign powers are active in order to stop elections using services of terrorist organizations. (Khabrain)

BALOCHISTAN
1.General Secretary of Balochistan Employees Council and Amjad Ali, senior Vice President of Chaudhary Yasin group have said that in the forthcoming gazetted and non-gazetted posts, Balochistan had been sidelined. They said that their senior leaders will take up this issue and will ensure recruitment on merit. They said they will also intimate the administration of their reservations on the issue. (Jinnah)

POK/ G-B NEWS
1. PPP (AJK) former President Sardar Nazakat has left PPP along with his associates. (Daily Dharti)

2. Chief Court of Gilgit-Baltistan has restored 183 suspended teachers after cancellation of suspension orders by the Chief Secretary. (Baad-e-Shimal)