Pakistan Media

Pak Urdu Media Digest -Jan 11, 2012

Former President Musharraf, who is making a determined bid to return home, is facing flak for his advocacy of Pakistan's ties with Israel. While he may have hoped to find favour with the US with his pro-Israel tilt, it appears to have sealed his chances of political survival back home. There are no cases of missing persons in Sindh, according to a report. This believe it or not category news is based on the fact that Sindh, unlike Balochistan and NWFP, registered no with Pakistan Parliament's standing committee on human rights. (Today's dispatch includes Jan 10 also)

INDIA
1. PML-N has submitted an adjournment motion to the National Assembly secretariat against the government’s mysterious silence over India building new dams on common rivers without telling Pakistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

UNITED STATES
1. Nawa-i-Waqt has criticised the US policy makers’ concern over threat to Husain Haqqani’s life. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

2. Ausaf edit is critical of former president Pervez Musharraf for advocating change in the policy on Israel and for accepting Israel as a reality. The daily says Musharraf delivered the homily to convince the West particularly the Americans that he was still useful for them. It asks under what rules he was allowed to address by phone a Karachi rally when he has been declared an absconder and an arrest warrant is pending against him. (Ausaf Edit, 10 January)

DEFENCE
1. Jinnah’s editorially reacted to the criticism of the Prime Minister against COAS and ISI directly filing their affidavits in the SC in the Memogate case. The daily criticizes the government for making Memogate more complicated by issuing such statements. It says the government should instead help the SC in resolving rifts between institutions. (Jinnah Edit)

2. Daily Pak’s editorial writes when the government and the military enjoy good relations, the PM adopts soft approach towards the Army but when the relations are strained, he and PPP leaders speak harshly against the Army. Edit wonders if this attitude is due to his personal fear or because of preparations to pack him off. The daily urges that both institutes should avoid issuing heated statements. (Daily Pak Edit)

3. Ibrat editorial says it is not only the judiciary that is cut off with the government but even the establishment does not see eye- to- eye with government. Edit states that it is likely that the government may be packed off before the senate polls. The daily also says PM’s criticism of the Army Chief and ISI chief during an interview to the Chinese TV was worth taking note of. Edit writes that the COAS and ISI Chief are government employees and fall under the jurisdiction of the Defence Ministry; they should have taken permission from the parent ministry, but such practices are non-existent in Pakistan. The situation is now heading for its climax. (Ibrat Edit)

4. MNA Riaz Fatyana and chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights said that the committee has not received any registered case about missing persons in Sindh; cases about missing persons in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwah are however registered. He also accused the police of being involved in violating human rights. He said that the Sindh Jails IG and others police officers will be summoned to explain about the killing of prisoners in Hyderabad Jail. (Ibrat)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1.Chief Commander of Harkat-ul Mujahidin, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil and Muslim Conference chief, Sardar Atiq have announced joining JuD’s new outfit, Dafa-e- Pakistan Council in a meeting with Dafa-e-Pakistan Council chairman Maulana Sami-ul –Haq. (Daily Pak)

2. Sunni Ittehad Council chairman and Pakistan Parliament member Sahibzada Fazal Karim has ruled out any alliance with MMA, saying that the MMA religious parties had extended support to Musharraf to stay in power. (Khabrain)

3. Navid Masood Hashmi writes in Al Qalam Weekly that religious minded and people belonging to Madaris are unhappy with the electronic channels. Though all the TV channels gave wide coverage to a story that said some students were kept in forced confinement in the Madaris, no single channel gave coverage to firing on Jamia Farooqiya in Karachi in which six students were injured; no coverage was also provided to the subsequent attack that left one student Qari Ahmed Qamar Baloch injured. The columnist says media in Pakistan is fulfilling agenda of Jews, Hindus and Christians. Given the way the TV anchors spew venom against Islam and Jihadists, it would be difficult for the anchors to protect themselves if Madaris and Mosques also started raising their voices against them. Masood writes that the man behind murder of Qamar Baloch has been arrested and in his confession he revealed that he had the backing of Iran. It seems that a conspiracy is there to create sectarian unrest in Karachi. (Al Qalam Weekly, 6-12 January)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Musharraf has booked tickets on three airlines to Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar for 29 and 30 January in order to avoid arrest on arrival. (Jinnah)

2. Reacting to SC orders on NRO, PML (N)’s Nisar Chaudhary has said that the government is under a tight leash now. He said that the government has no choice now but to obey court orders. Speaking to TV channel, he said Rehman Malik and Babbar Awan have brought all this court scorn on the government. (Kawish)

3. Nazir Naji writes in Jang that President Zardari is in real trouble and it would be of no use to discuss whether he would continue for next fifteen months or not; but one thing was certain that the policy of consensus with everyone including foreign nations would be the policy of the future. Naji writes that the new emerging power PTI and Musharraf have no policies like the PPP and this would give PPP a chance to come back to power, even if not immediately. He states that for survival with the changing times it would be important to strengthen the country’s economy. It will also be necessary even to allow Kashmir prosper by packaging it as a tourist place and by ending the LOC restrictions for Kashmiris and international visitors. He adds that Kashmiris should be asked after 25 years about their will. Naji writes that peace in Pakistan is the main key to win the confidence of international community; other wise power players would destroy Pakistan, if it becomes hurdle to them plans (Jang)

4. Legal expert and PML (Q) leader, S.M. Jaffar said if the PM does not take action on court orders on the NRO matter, he may face contempt of court proceedings. And he may have to go. Following the 18th Amendment, the PM is the Chief Executive of the country and all responsibility falls on him. He said option One given by court clearly says that in case of any action against the government, the PM can be sacked but the government can remain. He said that there is no precedent anywhere in world where the government might have to be packed off on court order. (Kawish)

5. Several legal experts have given mixed reactions to the SC orders on NRO. Tariq Mahmood, retired justice, said that the SC has given reference of 63G and this can make case much worse. The SC has given an opportunity to the government before giving the final verdict. Former Chief Justice Siddiqui said that now it is becoming clear that if the government does not abide by the court’s orders, contempt of court proceedings can be initiated against the government. Jafar Ali Shah, PML-N leader and legal expert, said that by setting up a larger bench, the court has given an opportunity to the government to abide by its orders. (Ibrat)

6. G.N. Mughal writes that there have been several instances of violating the constitution in the past but that it would be in larger interests of country if this practice is not repeated any longer. (Awami Awaz)

7. Aijaz Mungi writes that the government is under siege from several fronts; two of these cases are SC orders on NRO and the forthcoming Memogate scandal. The Abbottabad commission is no less headache for the government. He opines that if the government had any inkling that there is no threat in the pipeline from the Abbottabad commission, the Pakistan High Commissioner in the UK would have gladly appeared before the commission; but seeing Husain Haqqani’s plight, he decided against coming home. It is an open secret now that the government is under multiple attacks from the judiciary and dilemma for the government is whether to surrender or fight back. He states that this is the reason the government has now started consultations with allies; most likely the MQM and ANP will be very cautious in their approach and both may ask the government not to be in confrontational mode vis-à-vis the judiciary. (Awami Awaz)

8. Aijaz Jamali writes in Ibrat that given the current conditions, it does not look like Musharraf can return and will likely be persuaded to defer his return till March to avoid going to jail. He writes that it is also likely that for some time he might be kept in jail and in the intervening period he might be acquitted from cases in courts. There are rumours that Pakistan may go for general polls by October and November and in that case some caretaker government may take charge by July or August. In view of these rumours, it will have to be seen what Musharraf chooses between preferring to remain in jail for six months or defer his return. According to the writer, if Musharraf returns to Pakistan under any deal, Nawaz Sharif and Zardari will have to join hands to stall Musharraf’s return. Barring Zardari and Nawaz Sharif’s parties, other parties might go with Musharraf; PML-Q, MQM, PTI and religious parties come under this category. In other words, the electoral battle will be between religious parties and parties which enjoy popular support. The writer states that polarisation process appears have begun for the coming polls and Musharraf’s return was also seen as one of the links in that pursuit. The new slogans for coming polls will be "election for change; Imran Khan and Musharraf are likely to be shown as champions wanting this change. According to the writer, it is an old practice and old habit of the establishment to weaken democracy in the country by whipping up politics of bias. (Ibrat)

9. Ausaf edit ticks off MQM chief Altaf Hussain for his comment that he supports the formation of new provinces but cannot accept division of Sindh. Creation of provinces should be based on administration and not on languages. (Ausaf Edit, 10 January)

Jasarat’s edit on the statements of Gilani and Zardari against judiciary says that these statements are creating tension between institutions. (Jasarat Edit)

10. Nawa-i-Waqt  editorial says many circles feel that the instead of referring the case to the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court Bench should have announced the final judgment in the Memogate case. It urges that some effective measures following the Bangladesh model should be taken before lawlessness and anarchy created a critical situation in the country. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

11. Khabrain’s editorial suggests that the government should not allow anarchy and must encourage efforts towards maintaining good relationships amongst different institutions. (Khabrain Edit)

12. Daily Intekhab and Jang have also discussed the judicial order against the PM and the government in the NRO case. President Zardari has called a meeting of the PPP Core Committee and a fresh wave of confrontation between these two respected institutions was building. What both sides should ensure is that the democratic process should not be affected because of the vengeance of vested interests. Editorials in the two dailies also note that the PPP has complete majority in Parliament and therefore it would not be possible to remove it in a democratic way; any undemocratic effort would be disastrous for the nation. People should be approached in this matter as the supremacy of the Parliament should not be challenged. Instead of confrontation on any matter, all departments should find ways amicably to stand strongly against external aggressors who are trying all means to destroy Pakistan. (Daily Intekhab Edit, Jang Edit)

13. Ummat edit discusses pros and cons in the Memogate case and tension between ‘departments’ with America showing interest in the case especially in Hussain Haqqani. Edit writes that analysts have claimed that America gave special care to those Pakistanis who work for its interests and Hussain Haqqani was really special for America and that is why it has started a movement to get him back to the US. (Ummat Edit)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. Due to lack of water, oil and gas supplies, electricity shortfall reached 4800 MW and 8 to 16 hours load shedding.  (Jinnah)

2. The engineering design of the Bunji hydropower project of 7100 MW has been completed. The first unit of Jinnah hydropower project has started trail production. It is a run of the river project and has been built on the Indus near Jinnah barrage at Mianwali. On its completion, the project will yield around Rs. 8 billion profit annually. At present 7 projects with a capacity of producing 1500 MW energy are in the pipeline; of these five projects will be completed in the current year. Besides this, construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam and Kurram Tangi dam projects has also begun. (Baad-e-Shimal)

SINDH
1. Kawish edit says the Sindh government should take note of human rights violations in the province and live up to its constitutional obligations of protecting the people from waderas’ exploitation. (Kawish Edit)

2. Awami Awaz edit says that 11 senators from Sindh are going to retire in March, and asks whether these vacancies will be filled in by natives of Sindh or by importing candidates from other provinces. (Awami Awaz Edit)

POK NEWS
1. President of AJK Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan said that Kashmiris were the saviours of the ideological and geographical boundaries of Pakistan. He said that Pakistan should review its trade policy with India. (Ausaf, 10 January)

2. Intra Kashmir Traders have called of their strike after 14 days and all trucks have started moving. (Daily Dharti)

3. PM AJK has said that government would start industrial areas in AJK and the whole region would be provided with free electricity. (Daily Dharti)

G-B NEWS
1. Diamer protestors have agreed for dialogues with the government. They have submitted a 12 point charter of demand. (Baad-e-Shimal)

2. CM Gilgit Baltistan Mehdi Shah said his government’s first priority is law and order and therefore law enforcement agencies are deployed on 24 hour vigil to check sectarian violence and target killings. He said help of the federal Ministry of the Interior has been sought in establishing peace in Gilgit. Already, a wanted person, Abdul Wakil of Chilas has been arrested. Others involved in the shooting on Colonel Ahsan Ali Road have also been arrested. (Ausaf, 10 January)

3. The GB CM said police have been provided with 10 police vehicles equipped with the latest amenities. He said that more cars, 50 motorcycles and 200 bullet-proof jackets will also be provided. (Baad-e-Shimal)

4. If violence continued in Gilgit city, migrants will have to leave the city. A community police system should be introduced to Gilgit City since paramilitary forces have failed to establish peace. (Ausaf, 10 January)

5. Baad-e-Shimal expresses concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in GB. The daily says GB is the only area in the world which is rich in mineral deposits, water resources, pleasant weather and natural beauty but peace is missing. It urges that the local public and Ulema should help the government and expose terrorists. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

6. Talking to Baad-e-Shimal, the GB Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Wazir Hasan, complained that no minister listened to the Chief Minister’s orders. (Baad-e-Shimal)

7. Baad-e-Shimal editorial voiced concern over problems created by the blocking of the Karakorum highway by protestors. It urges the government to hold dialogue with protestors and get the blockade lifted. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

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