CHINA
1. Dr Ansar Pervaiz, Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Commission said in Geneva that Pakistan needed more nuclear plants to fulfil its energy requirements. Chashma-3 and 4 plants built with the cooperation of China would start production in 2016. He added that safety at the Pak nuclear plants was strengthened in 2011. (Urdu Point)
UNITED STATES
1. Chandiyo Faraz writes in Ibrat: American demands that Pakistan ‘do more’ are intolerable; it would ultimately result in Pakistan being driven closer to China. China is clearly intent on drawing lines along its Western border all the way up to Iran. He suggests that Pakistan should get rid of American pressure by creating strategic links with several countries, including India, through commerce and trade. For this to happen, Pakistan will have to think beyond ‘power politics’ and adopt clear and distinct policies. (Ibrat)
2. Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial is on the US demand that Pakistan should take steps against the Haqqani network. “When the Haqqani network does not exist in Pakistan, there is no question of taking any action against it”, the edit said. (Edit)
3. Daily Intekhab’s editorial comments on terrorism facing Pakistan. It says some liberal and pro development sections view terrorism as the main problem facing the country, which is contrary to the facts. These pro-development elements are only serving the autocracy by linking terrorism with the resistance movements against autocracy. …The resistance in Afghanistan against the autocratic strategies of the US should be considered as a part of the consolidating general struggle in the region. ….There is a clear distinction between the confrontation in Afghanistan against America and the terrorist activities by TTP in Pakistan. The Chitral attack last month was carried out by TTP’s Bajaur leadership who were pushed into Afghanistan after the army action and the same elements with the help of Afghan Administration and American agents attacked the Pakistani border. …TTP has even accepted to kidnapping five children and the attack on the FC High official in Quetta whereas the Afghan Taliban had no knowledge about these incidents. …America has been pressurizing Pakistan to leave the TTP and take action against groups fighting against American and NATO forces. …Unfortunately our analysts and political intellectuals seem reluctant to explain this point and it is necessary that Pakistani departments should keep Pakistan’s interests on top of all things and should not allow any autocratic influence to become an obstacle in ending terrorism. ….Even if terrorism is controlled somehow the autocratic and tyrannical ideologies would force such a negative approach to stand again and hence both should be seen as one entity and a permanent cure is needed for both these diseases. (Daily Intekhab Edit)
INDIA
1. JuD chief Prof Hafiz Muhammad Saeed has accused foreign powers of being involved in the ongoing terrorism and conspiracy in Sindh and Balochistan. In an interview with Nawa-i-Waqt, he said Pakistan’s back channel diplomacy with India would be an ineffective exercise on the issue of Kashmir. He accused India of not being serious in resolving the Kashmir issue but being busy using dialogue as a weapon in ‘occupied’ Kashmir and by making dams on Pakistani rivers. Saeed further said that political parties of AJK and others parties should pressurize current rulers to take a firm principled stand on UN resolutions regarding Kashmir. He said that it would be foolish to believe that dialogue would result in India ending its state terrorism. On the one hand India is busy blaming Pakistan of committing terrorism and on the other hand it is talking about the dialogue process and its success. (Hizb Media, 19 September)
2. Former Indus Water Commissioner Jamat Ali Shah has accused India of constructing 94 dams with the co-operation of the World Bank and converting Pakistan into a barren region. He said according to sources India has completed tasks on 24 dams on the River Chenab, 52 on Jhelum and 18 on the Sindh River. (Khabrain)
3. Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial on Zuhurul Hasan’s warning says: he said Indian and Israeli lobbies are responsible for the anti-dams movement in Pakistan. If Pakistan had not come under the influence of the Indian and Israeli lobbies, then Pakistan would have built Kalabagh dam and countered India’s water aggression. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
4. PPP leader, Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry has demanded demilitarization of Jammu and Kashmir for facilitating movement of the Kashmiri people. (Hizb Media, 19 September)
DEFENCE
1. It was agreed between the US and Pakistan that 100-150 US troops will stay in Pakistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. Pakistan has refused to hand over former chief of ISI Gen Javid Nasir to the International Court of Hague which has summoned Javid on the charge that he had supported Bosnian Muslims against Serbians. (Jasarat)
3. Daily Pak’s editorial has hailed army help to dengue patients and efforts to fight the virus. (Daily Pak Edit)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. JI chief Syed Munawar Hasan said that the killing of Shia pilgrims in Mastung was carried out as part of a conspiracy to deteriorate Iran-Pakistan ties and to spark Shia-Sunni riots in Pakistan. Hasan said that the attack was the handiwork of anti-national elements and their agents. (Jasarat)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Sindh HC has issued notices against Pervez Musharraf, Altaf Hussain and former Sindh CM Arbab Rahim in connection with the May 12, 2007 cases when people, including Chief Justice of the SC, Iftikhar Chaudhry, were prevented from reaching a venue where they were to be felicitated. (Ibrat)
2. Former Pakistan President Gen. (retd) Musharraf said that he will certainly return to Pakistan to contest elections next year. He said that by uniting MQM, Tehrik-e-Insaf and the other 60% silent majority, a revolution can be brought about in Pakistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
3. MQM leadership believes that the Army and President Zardari were behind the press conference held by former senior Sindh Minster Zulfiqar Mirza where in he had alleged that MQM was a seditionist party, reliable sources in the MQM said. (Jasarat)
4. Federal Minister for the Interior Rehman Malik gave a detailed briefing to President Zardari at on operations in Karachi against target killers. Earlier, while speaking to the media, Malik said that the car blast in front of a police official in Karachi was not a suicide attack. He also stated that the situation in Karachi is under control and that 60 target killers have been apprehended so far. He said that militants who surrender arms within a week would be spared. (Ibrat)
5. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif suggested that all political parties having a militant wing should be banned from contesting election. This should be done either through a statute amendment or suo moto decree by the Supreme Court. (Daily Pak/Nawa-i-Waqt)
6. Ibrat edit: The need of the hour in Pakistan is to address two major issues namely financial support that reaches major militant groups, and internal security of the country (Ibrat Edit)
ECONOMY
1. Irfan Siddiqui writes about the worn out economic condition of Pakistan. Irfan says that Syed Moududi had termed Pakistan ‘Masaeylistan’ (a place of problems) which had come true today with all departments in complete disarray and no one ready work to improve the conditions. (Jang)
2. Ausaf’s editorial comments on reports that 99 billion dollars belonging to Pakistan were deposited in Swiss Banks. The report said that with this money Pakistan can have a tax free budget for 30 years, and provide jobs for six crore unemployed youth. Pointing out that by using this money Pakistan can get rid of IMF and World Bank loans, the editorial demands that all the money in Swiss Banks and in other international banks should be brought back home to change the current economic situation and provide relief to people. (Ausaf Edit, 20 September)
SINDH
1. JuD chief Hafiz Saeed said that his organisation has spent millions of rupees in flood hit areas and workers of Jamaat are also campaigning for assistance to the flood hit people. In an interview with Nawa-i-Waqt, he said more than 15000 people have been rescued and moved to safer places. More than 55000 people are being provided food on a daily basis. He said floods in Sindh have affected more than 7500000 people. (Hizb Media, 19 September)
2. SAPNA, a representative body of all nationalist groups in Sindh, has said that it has no trust in relief operations being carried out by authorities. It decided to stage a protest demonstration on September 26 in front of all the Press clubs as well as the police stations. (Ibrat)
3. Interior Ministry has collected complete data about holy places, mausoleums and educational institutions in Karachi. (Jasarat)
4. DG Rangers, Sindh, Gen Ejaz Chaudhry said that criminal elements have infiltrated all political parties and action will be taken against miscreants wherever they are in Karachi. He also said that Rangers have been given complete power and this time better results will be obtained. (Ausaf, 20 September)
5. Awami Awaz edit: Just as the Sindh HC had initiated enquiries into the Chakra village attack, similar enquiries should be held against police officers who have links with groups such as the land mafia, extortion groups, and militant groups. (Awami Awaz Edit)
BALOCHISTAN
1. Exiled Baloch leader Mir Suleman Dawood Khan has said in an interview in London that the freedom of Balochistan is one of his agendas. He is ready to talk with the government of Pakistan but the negotiations can be held either in the US or UK. (Khabrain)
2. National Assembly’s standing committee on petroleum and natural gas said production of gas in Balochistan has dropped from 67% to 27%. Search for new reserves of gas has become difficult due to deteriorating law and order situation in the province. (Jasarat)
3. 230 people have been the target of sectarian attacks in Balochistan since 2007. (Jasarat)
POK NEWS
1. President of AJK Yaqoob Khan has set off to take part in an OIC session in the US. He is accompanied by a military secretary. (Ausaf, 20 September)
2. American embassy has denied a visa to the President of AJK and now he cannot attend the OIC conference taking place in the US. (/Jasarat)
3. Former PM AJK Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry said that a decision on the Kashmir issue is not possible and stated that it should be resolved under UN resolutions. 4. While speaking with media in Srinagar he said that the world community is trying to resolve the Afghan issue but the Kashmir issue was the genuine issue of the region. He said that movements in AJK have confirmed that people of Kashmir want freedom and they aspire for their rights. He said that withdrawal of troops will help in finding a solution of the Kashmir dispute. (Ausaf, 20 September)
5. Walim Asif, leader of PML-N (UK) said that British MP Steven Baker has done a job which Kashmiris and Kashmiri origin MPs couldn’t do namely raising the Kashmir issue in the British Parliament. He asked people to put pressure on their MPs to raise the Kashmir issue. (Ausaf, 20 September)
GILGIT-BALTISTAN
1. Due to river erosion at Shigar, crop worth lakhs of rupees has been destroyed. Local elders said if immediate steps are not taken, it would cause heavy destruction. (Baad-e-Shimal)
2. At a meeting of elected members of the Diamer district committee, Ulemas and elders from Diamer district villages, it was decided that a committee would be set up consisting of 5 members from each village, who would contact local people and would block the Karakoram Highway if their demands are not met. Their demands include a cadet college and medical college for the district. (Baad-e-Shimal)
3. Labour Party-Gilgit-Baltistan has moved the court challenging the ban on political activities in Hunza Nagar by the provincial government. (Baad-e-Shimal)
4. Baad-e-Shimal editorial: One year after the Attabad tragedy, the situation remains unresolved. FWO has not completed the spillway which has resulted in the Hunza –Gojal being isolated. Last year China supplied essential commodities including petrol and diesel for the people of Gojal. This year the President House has asked the economic division to approach China again for help with essential commodities. President, Prime Minister and the Army Chief are aware of the situation; yet no step had been taken to repair the Karakoram highway or to discharge water from the Hunza Lake. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
5. Baad-e-Shimal EDIT: Thousands of people held a protest demonstration against the National Highway Authority. They are angry that the Authority has failed to complete the repairs on the Karakoram highway within the stipulated time. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
