Pakistan Media

Pak Urdu Media Digest -Aug 8

This report includes dispatches for Aug 7

IRAN
Nawa-i-Waqt edit on Iranian President’s meeting with Pakistan Senate Chairman says that the two countries have not kept close ties because the US did not want Pakistan to have close ties with Iran. Edit says that the UN had imposed sanctions against Iran due to its nuclear programme, but India and China had business relations with Iran. Edit says that Pakistan was not buying gas from Iran even though it was going through a severe energy crisis and despite Iran making several offers to provide it with gas, oil and electricity. Edit urges that an Islamic bloc of Pakistan, Iran Afghanistan and Turkey be formed to tackle regional issues. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

CHINA
World Sindhi Congress has demonstrated in front of the Chinese Consulate in London registering Sindhis’ protests against the upcoming project of Zulfikarabad. The report says that Chinese Consulate officials refused to accept the memorandum the protestors wanted to hand over to the Consulate. (Awami Awaz)

INDIA
JuD leader Prof. Abdul Rahman Makki said that the group would not let Pakistan serve as a corridor for the US or as a market for India. (Daily Dharti)

Deputy chief of JI (AJK) Sheikh Aqeelur Rahman said that Kashmiris were not taken into confidence before the beginning of the Neelum-Jhelum project. He said that Pakistani leaders will fulfil their water requirements with the help of Kashmiri waters and Kashmiris will remain deprived. Rehman said that Pakistani leaders were not interested in resolving the Kashmir dispute and stated that if they had been interested in the Kashmir issue, they would have raised the issue of Indian atrocities on Kashmiris at international forums. (Ausaf)
 
UNITED STATES
Before the UN’s General Assembly session begins, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will visit Washington where she will meet her American counterpart to discuss the restoration of strategic dialogue as well as military, intelligence, economic and political cooperation. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

DEFENCE
COAS Gen. Kayani attended the final session of war drills at Gujranwala where he assessed war exercises. Kayani also visited the Army Marksman Unit at Jhelum. This is a newly formed unit. (Urdupoint, Baad-e-Shimal)

Chief of Abbotabad Commission has ordered an investigation into reports about Pakistani intelligence agencies harassing and pressurizing witnesses. ISI has been ‘guiding’ witnesses before they appear in front of the Commission, it is alleged. (Urdupoint)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
Daily Pak in an edit on SC direction that PEMRA should stop all vulgar TV programmes in week says in the name of entertainment, vulgar culture was being shown on TV.  TV channels are releasing Indian movies and vulgar songs.  Edit suggest that some system should established with regards to what material should be shown (Daily Pak Edit)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
PPP high-command has come up with a new strategy to pressurize the judiciary in the contempt of court case. Faisal Raza Abidi’s press conference was a part of this strategy. Issuing a show cause notice to Faisal Raza Abidi post his press conference was pre-scheduled. Two days before this press conference, a meeting between Faisal and the PPP leadership was held to adopt a cautious attitude after reviewing the prevailing national conditions. Under its first stage, a 15- member team of influential PPP leaders was formed to attract people; this team will initiate a struggle against the judiciary; PPP officials were given a responsibility to defend those who were struggling against the judiciary by terming it their personal views. Within a few days, 2 PPP leaders will open a new financial scandal against the son of a high-profile member of the judiciary. (Khabrain)

JUI-F’s Fazlur Rehman said that till date, it wasn’t clear who ruled the country. He said that if the Parliament was weakened, it would be met with attacks from all sides. He said that so far, in the battle between politicians and the establishment, the politicians have often lost the battle. (Ibrat)

After a meeting, MQM and PTI leaders said that the nation was passing through a vulnerable phase and all political parties must generate a national thinking. They said the government should implement the 18th amendment and stop confronting the judiciary. They added that all political parties should form a joint strategy against load shedding, inflation, poverty and chaos. (Urdupoint)

PML-F chief Pir Pagara said that time and situation will unite all Muslim League factions. He said that his late father had dreamt of uniting all factions and to fulfil this dream, he will visit all Muslim League factions. He added that the general elections did not appear to be taking place for a long time, but whenever they did take place, the PM would be from Muslim League. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Ibrat)

Supreme Court has summoned Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary over his remarks against the judiciary. (Daily Dharti)

The government’s promise of increasing pensions was just a ruse for the public as till date, no notification has been issued in this regard. (Ausaf, 7 August)

Nawa-i-Waqt edit on PPP removing Faisal Abidi from the party’s core committee comments that while some had praised PPP’s action, others have held that PPP had used Abidi just like it had used Zulfiqar Mirza. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

Nawa-i-Waqt edit on PM’s statement on transparent elections for strengthening parliament says obeying legal and constitutional decisions of the court is also a way to strengthen the Parliament. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
President of the Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce, Javed Akhtar Bhatti said that the current year’s budget deficit was the highest in the nation’s history. He claimed that the reason behind it was the government’s non-development expenses in view of the election year. He also accused federal and provincial governments of spending on non-essential things instead of development schemes. (Ausaf, 7 August)

People will have to buy rice at higher prices due to short fall in area under paddy.  This year, the rice crop was 1.2 million tonnes less than last year; if export demands were met, there would be an internal shortage of rice. (Ummat)

NAB has issued notices to 5 telecom companies regarding tax evasion of Rs. 47 billion. NAB instructed companies to deposit the money within 3 days and the company’s representatives have been asked to appear before the investigating team today. (Urdupoint)

National Bank, the Security and Exchange Commission, and other bodies working under the Finance Ministry have refused to get their accounts audited by the Auditor General of Pakistan. Reacting to this development, the Public Accounts Committee observed that such refusals were unconstitutional and amounted to treason. The PAC said that the matter will be sent to the Parliament. Finance Secretary has let the PAC know that the Railways were being given Rs. 3.20 billion every month to make payments to their staff in time. (Ibrat)

SINDH
Sindh government has warned extortionists, target killers and other criminal elements to surrender. Rangers and police have been given powers to act against Taliban and others without any discrimination. (Kawish, 7 August)

In his article, Allah Bux Raud says that not just the backward areas of Karachi, but also the so-called posh areas are fast becoming crime centres, including white-collar and money laundering crimes. Raud talks about the various mafias functioning in Karachi and says that the drug mafia also controlled a large part of Karachi. He says that several Pashtoon and Urdu-speaking leaders have been seen confronting each other in these parts as reflected in the continuing confrontation between Karachi’s two main parties – MQM and ANP. (Awami Awaz)

BALOCHISTAN
Daily Intekhab in an editorial says that the federal Cabinet Committee touring Balochistan would meet the CM and other concerned authorities and political leaders to find out a possible solution to the Baloch problem. Senator Farhatullah Babar had advised the committee to talk to the Baloch leadership as well. Edit says that the federal Interior Advisor Rehman Malik has simply blamed external forces but has not dared to name either India or the US. Edit says there was something suspicious when the federal government suddenly became active in this regard and the US released the money for the Coalition Support Fund. Edit writes that it seemed as if Pakistan was successful in making the US neutral. It says that even the out-going American Envoy had also mentioned that the US will not support separatists in Balochistan.  US is not giving Pakistan money out of affection; it required Pakistan to be a trustworthy partner to protect its interests in the region. Edit says that the public should know the details about the US-Pak deal. (Daily Intekhab Edit)

POK/  G-B NEWS
PM Raja Ashraf said that no one could even think about replacing AJK PM Chaudhary Abdul Majeed who had been nominated as the AJK PM by Benazir Bhutto. He added that the AJK Premier was the heir of the blood of martyrs and had complete trust of the AJK Parliamentary Party and the Federation. (Daily Dharti)

PML-N (AJK) President and former PM Farooq Haider said that Act 74 was a trap of slavery and demanded that an election commission be formed in AJK just like in Pakistan. (Daily Dharti, Jang)

People in Gilgit-Baltistan are worried after the first-ever remote controlled bomb blast and after incidents of jail break in Gilgit-Baltistan. (Ausaf)

Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Manzoor Wattoo said that negligence in the construction of the Diamir Dam will not be tolerated. At a high-level meeting, Wattoo instructed the chief engineer that the CM and Chief Secretary should be briefed fortnightly; he has also given asked to review work progress every two months. Gilgit-Baltistan CM, Secretary – Ministry of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs, Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan and officials of WAPDA were present. The meeting decided that Gilgit-Baltistan government will provide 19000 acres to WAPDA for the construction of the dam. Gilgit-Baltistan government has also been asked to give land for construction of 100 kilometres of the Karakoram Highway to WAPDA and the National Highway Authority. (Ausaf, Baad-e-Shimal)

Ausaf edit says AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan are not receiving their fair share of electricity. It says that the way gas was extracted from Balochistan to supply to the entire Pakistan when Balochistan itself was kept deprived, the people of AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan thought that electricity from their region was supplied to all provinces when they were being deprived of it. (Ausaf Edit)

Contractors have protested in front of the PWD office in Gilgit against the non-payment of dues; they said that if payments were not made in time, they would invite all Gilgit contractors to join their protest. (Ausaf, Baad-e-Shimal)

Baad-e-Shimal edit on Opposition leader Hajji Janbaaz Khan’s criticism that  the government has totally failed to establish its writ in Gilgit-Baltistan, says that this statement is not entirely untrue as the public is disappointed with the government; the daily has urged the government to take a serious note of the opposition leader’s criticism. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

Baad-e-Shimal edit on a senior Minister’s meeting with the federal Finance Secretary, noted that G-B has been assured of Rs. 2 billion to make payments. Edit says that though this was good news, the government should limit its expenses according to income. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

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