INDIA
2. Sardar Shoaib Nazish, Member of Advisory Council said that the Kashmir Centre in London and Brussels are unofficial consulates of Kashmiris; their protection is the responsibility of Kashmiris of both sides of the LoC. (Ausaf, 16 January)

3. CM of AJK Abdul Majid said AJK is the base camp of Kashmiris and he will make it a fort for the liberation movement. (Ausaf, 16 January, Baad-e-Shimal)

4. AJK Assembly Speaker Gulam Sadiq said that the freedom of Kashmir was very near and the Indian Army Chief had accepted defeat. He added that AJK, IHK, and GB were integral part of Kashmir and could not be severed forcefully. He said that very soon all parts of Kashmir would become a single entity and its merger with Pakistan would be realized soon (Daily Dharti)

UNITED STATES
1. Talhe Al Saif writes in his column that American forces were facing difficulties due to the stopped NATO supplies. (Al Qalam Weekly, 13-19 January)

2. EDIT in Ibrat says drone attacks are a very crucial issue for Pakistan because these attacks have been taking a toll on innocent lives. Some reports have been indicating that there were secret pacts between Musharraf and American authorities that though Pakistan will openly condemn such attacks, America can continue doing these attacks and ensure that innocents are not be affected. NATO has also been giving the impressions that before attacks, they do inform Pakistani authorities. Following the Raymond Davis issue and later NATO attack on Pakistan’s border check post, ties between America and Pakistan are severely affected, though drone attacks have come down but not stopped completely as is clear from the Jan 12 drone attack on January 12th; this attack is said to have killed TTP’s Hakimullah Mehsud.  Edit states that if it is true that Hakimullah has indeed been killed in this attack, it can be said that these drone attacks by and large are meant against targeted militants. Edit states that Pakistani people have now come to identify these elements that have succeeded in spreading panic in society and have also weakened Pakistan. Though they were seen as ‘mujahids’ during Zia’s time, the policy has changed now; there should be no room for the militants in Pakistan. Though talks with Taliban are a good beginning, the question is at what cost? Pakistan’s strategy vis-à-vis TTP will be decided only after Afghan-America pact with the Afghan Taliban. Edit states that coming back to issue of drone attacks, instead of playing politics on this matter; it should be viewed logically and nothing should be done   or imposed on the nation just for the sake of cheap publicity. (Ibrat Edit)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. National Crisis Management Cell of federal Interior Ministry has alerted all the provincial government that one white Toyota car which was under use by an intelligence officer in Karachi on January 1 was snatched by armed militants. The report states that in 2011, more than 15 government vehicles were similarly stolen. (Awami Awaz)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Allah Bux Rajour writes that the government, Army and judiciary are at a crossroads. He writes that all political parties should be far-sighted lest some third party takes advantage.  (Awami Awaz)

2. Experts have said that PM Gilani could be jailed from 1 day to 6 months if charges of contempt of court were proven. Some legal egg-heads aver that he would be imprisoned for 14 years for misusing his powers. (Ummat, Jang)

3. Advocate Habib Wahab Al-Khabari has filed petition in the SC seeking the disqualification of the PM and President on the grounds that both have shown disrespect to the court by not obeying its orders. The petitioner has sought their disqualification and ordering of immediate fresh polls. The petitioner further wants the court to get back to all the money looted from country and deposited abroad. . (Awami Awaz)

4. Ghinwa Bhutto has said that her children Fatima and Zulfiqar Junior will not participate in polls and those who wanted them to take part in politics wanted to see them killed. (Awami Awaz)

5. Ausaf edit says during the one-on-one meeting President Asif Ali Zardari and COAS Kayani have agreed to continue a working relationship. Kayani has expressed reservations of the Army on many issues. Kayani has raised the issue of the statement of PM Gilani given to a Chinese newspaper in reaction to Army –ISI response in the Supreme Court in connection with the Memogate. Edit writes that tussle between government and Army has increased and this has disappointed the people in Pakistan who are already hit by crises like electricity, gas and inflation; the daily hopes that the meeting between Kayani and Zardari will have positive effect on democracy. (Edit Ausaf 16 Jan)

6. Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial says the Prime Minister’s willingness to appear before the Supreme Court is a positive step but just performing a formality is not sufficient; he should implement the Court’s order on NRO. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

7. Editorial appeared on the Gilani crisis saying that the PPP and allies had asked PM Gilani to present himself before the SC as instructed on 19 January. President has clear immunity under the constitution and hence no one should unnecessarily play with it. Edit criticises PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif for asking PM Gilani to apologize to the COAS and the ISI Chief. Edit states that this was against democratic interests and an attack on the supremacy of the Parliament. (Daily Intekhab Edit, Ummat Edit, Jang Edit)

8. Jinnah’s editorial is extremely critical of the government for creating tension between institutions. It holds the government responsible for allowing a rift between the judiciary and government.  It asks the government to implement the SC verdict. (Jinnah)

9. Musharraf might come to Karachi by a boat from Dubai. (Khabrain)

10. ANP will hold a rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah on 29th January and committees have been formed for the preparation of the rally. (Jasarat, Ibrat)

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Ausaf edit voices concern over the suicide attack on the DPO office at Dera Ismail Khan in which 4 people were killed and 7 people injured. Edit demands that law enforcement agencies and security forces to be alert. (Ausaf Edit, 16 January)

SINDH
1. Qazi Gulam Mohammed Bhaiyo, main accused in the killing of three Hindu doctors at Chak, Sindh, who has been underground, is now learnt to have escaped from Sindh and taken shelter with some religious group at Dera Ismail Khan. (Awami Awaz)

2. Dr. Safdar Sarki chief of Jiye Sindh Tehreek said this is the century of revolution and Sindh will be free in the coming decade. (Awami Awaz, 16 January)

BALOCHISTAN
1. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, JUI(F)leader said that only miracles now can save Balochistan. He said that Balochistan is slipping away from Pakistan’s control. He said that the Pakistan flag is not being hoisted in Balochistan and no Pakistani anthem is being played in Balochistan schools. He said sadly no serious efforts are being taken to improve conditions in Balochistan. (Awami Awaz, 16 January)

POK/GB NEWS
1. Kerosene prices were high in Gilgit and common people were facing difficulties. (Ausaf, 16 January)

2. Baad-e-Shimal voices concern that with temperature down to minus 18 degrees, people’s plight has increased. Prices of wheat have shot up and wheat shortages are reported. Instead of supplying wheat flour at higher prices, raw wheat should be supplied to GB. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

3. GB Finance Minister, Mohammad Ali Akhtar, said that activities and statements of religious parties against the present government will nurture hatred among people. He further said that now the time of appointment and promotion on recommendations from Ulemas is over. He said that religion and politics or governance should be kept separate. He suggested that for establishing peace and sectarian harmony in GB, a grand jirga of elders from all seven districts should be formed. (Baad-e-Shimal)

4. GB government passed a resolution to thank the AJK government for agreeing to increase 100% quota for GB students in AJK educational institutes. (Baad-e-Shimal)

5. State Bank of Pakistan has issued orders not to release funds to GB for development and non-development expenses till the government sets right their account details. (Baad-e-Shimal)

6. Baad-e-Shimal editorial on corruption notes that PML-N has planned a protest movement against corruption in all 7 districts in GB. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)