2. Sahar Gul writes in Awami Awaz: Kashmir has been the bone of contention between Pakistan and India since partition, and now everybody had become aware of the consequences of this problem. The 1971 Indo-Pak war was not because of Kashmir, but because Pakistan had not made Bengalis feel safe in East Pakistan and that no foreign country, including India could have exploited that situation to its advantage.
The article also discusses Pakistan’s relationship with China and India saying: “It is a matter of fact that Pakistan’s establishment does not approve of India’s presence in Afghanistan. The establishment feels that after using Pakistan in the war against terror, American is now bringing India to the forefront in Afghanistan, which is not acceptable even to China. Instead of becoming a security state, Pakistan should now strive to be a welfare state that is egalitarian and focuses on the larger good of the people.  Being a nuclear power is not a guarantee that Pakistan would not collapse. Given the post-Independence history, India is no threat to Pakistan or its cities, and the actual troubles for Pakistan are internal. The government must look inwards to solve the country’s problem. (Awami Awaz)

AFGHANISTAN-NATO
1. Awami Awaz editorial on NATO’s weapon containers missing from the Karachi Port says: ‘After seeking details from the countries of origin on the contents of each of the containers, Pakistan’s Customs authorities and intelligence agencies should jointly enquire the issue. The inquiry should be carried out under the direction of serving judges of the Supreme Court so that the guilty are exposed. It is possible that these missing weapons are being used to create unrest in Karachi. (Awami Awaz Edit)

2. Jinnah edit is on the phenomenon of disappearance of NATO containers filled with weapons. “FBR sources have admitted that many NATO containers that had passed through Karachi port did not reach the Pakistan-Afghan border. On Supreme Court’s directions, FBR carried out investigations. The probe disclosed that there were numerous instances of corruption in the Karachi port system, as a result of which not only smugglers but also Pakistan’s rivals had benefited. The government must proceed against the figures responsible for these figures since Pakistan is dependent on foreign financial institutions. The government will do well to introduce a transparent system ‘checks and balances’.  (Jinnah Edit)

3. Nawa-i-Waqt editorial urged Pakistan to not hand the arrested Al-Qaeda leader over to US for interrogation, but conduct the interrogation in Pakistan itself. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

DEFENCE
1. Military leadership has voiced concern over the possibility that terrorists would be able to escape from Karachi. The military top brass has reportedly asked President Zardari to give more powers to the Rangers but that the President was not ready to oblige. Today’s Corps Commander Conference will discuss the issue as some sections of the military establishment consider the operation just a superficial action. (Ummat)

2. Brig. Haroon has said that MQM terrorists have prepared themselves for war and the missing NATO containers loaded with arms and ammunition could be in their control. (Ummat)

3. Gen. Aijaz Chaudhry, DG, Sindh Rangers, said that conditions in Karachi are much worse than in South Waziristan; he said a provincial level body needs to be set up to monitor  the functioning of the law-enforcement machinery. He said that such a committee should be made accountable to the Chief Minister of Sindh. He said that the army can temporarily resolve the Karachi imbroglio but a permanent solution lies in finding a political way out. (Kawish)

4. COAS Kayani met with tribal leaders during his visit to Chitral, sources said. (Khabrain, Jinnah, Baad-e-Shimal, Daily Pak)

5. Sensitive agencies have arrested two French nationals, reportedly members of a TV channel, from Abbottabad as they wanted to shoot video of the mansion where Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden had lived. (Jasarat)

6. Daily Intekhab’s edit on the bomb blast at the FC DIG’s House, says the blast took place just two days after al-Qaeda leader Mauritania’s arrest and handover to the US.  It is quite possible that the blast and the arrest were co-related since FC was involved in the arrest of al-Qaeda leaders. It is the responsibility of the security agencies to do a thorough search of Quetta City and catch hold of such terrorists. …Quetta is a centre of religious institutions; the first batch of Taliban had invaded Afghanistan from Quetta. So it is quite natural that the West would focus more on these areas. Despite several confirmations that al-Qaeda is present in Balochistan, Pakistan’s security agencies are not doing acting against them. In fact the CIA’s alert resulted in the latest three arrests.  The government should take all measures to stop infiltration of terrorists from Afghanistan and beef up security at borders. (Daily Intekhab Edit)

7. Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial on suicide attacks on DIG-FC’s house in Quetta says: the suicide attacker has been identified as a 19- year- old Ahmed Gul hailing from the Afghan province Kunduz. The attack was carried out by Al-Qaeda in retaliation for the arrest of its senior leaders. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Zulfiqar Mirza, while speaking to private TV channels, said that if cases were registered, then Altaf Hussain, Ishrat Albad, Farooq Sattar, Abbas Haider Rizvi and several other MQM leaders could be hanged. He said that MQM leaders were yet to reply to several crimes committed by them. He said that Altaf Hussain should stop playing games from London and return to Pakistan. (Awami Awaz)

2. Shamshad Khan Ghauri of Mohajir Qaumi Movement has appealed to the ‘relevant’ agencies that MQM be banned following the charges and documentary evidence against it from Zulfiqar Mirza. (Ibrat)

3. Hamid Mir writes in Ibrat: Musharraf told me in 1999 that MQM leader Altaf Hussain was a traitor. Musharraf also said that if Altaf were to be before him and if he were to have a loaded pistol, he would pump all six bullets into Altaf. (Ibrat)

4. Columnist Irfan Siddiqui writes in the Jang: In their public spat, neither Zulfiqar Mirza and nor Mustafa Kamal of MQM has spoken the complete truth and only the people will decide who’s right and who’s wrong. The government should investigate these charges. But right now its top priority should be restoring peace in Karachi. (Jang)

5. Hamid Mir writes in Jang: ‘In the past ten years many things have changed.  Earlier PPP, MQM and ANP used to call the Taliban terrorists and today after ten years these parties are have become terrorists against each other. If consensus with MQM is really a national risk then Zulfiqar Mirza should come out openly against his old friend, President Zardari. On the other hand while Mustafa Kamal tried to defend Ajmal Pahari, DG Rangers and Sindh has branded him as a MQM terrorist. It would be better if these two parties sit together to settle their scores instead of pushing the nation into anarchy. After 9/11 there had been no major terrorist attacks in the US but Pakistan is being jolted daily and has become the most unsafe country in the world. The question is why only enemies of American are caught from Pakistan and the American Army has no interest in catching Pakistani enemies in Afghanistan. ….In past decade, Pakistan has almost been destroyed and the war that had been started to safeguard the interests and integrity of Pakistan has pushed the country into more problems. Pakistan must learn the lesson that instead of relying on others it should fight its own wars and safeguard its interests. (Jang)

6. Khabrain editorial on L’affaire Mirza and MQM says, MQM leader Syed Mustafa Kamal has responded to Zulfiqar Mirza’s charges against MQM leaders, and urged the SC to take notice of Zulfiqar Mirza’s claims. Mustafa Kamal also criticized political parties for having contacts with such criminals like Ajmal Pahari. The editorial also notes with horror the confession of Zulfiqar Mirza’s declaration that he had approved three lakh weapon licenses. (Khabrain Edit)

7. Daily Pak in its editorial says: “Some of the allegations of Mirza against MQM are serious in nature and MQM has cleared its position. Since the Karachi situation is very critical, it is necessary to discuss the situation openly and find a solution. (Daily Pak Edit)

8. Daily Pak’s editorial on L’affaire Rehman Malik says: serious allegations have been levelled against the Federal Interior Minister, Rehman Malik by his own party members, Zulfiqar Mirza, Balochistan minister Lashkari Raeesani and Humayun Aziz Kurd. If Malik’s own party members are accusing him then the allegations should be taken seriously and investigated. It is surprising that instead of raising the issue at the party forum, the PPP leaders went public in violation of party discipline. (Daily Pak Edit)

9. Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial is on army chief Gen. Kayani’s meeting with President Zardari to discuss the Karachi situation and his demand for more powers for the Rangers to deal with the situation in Karachi. It also commented on the allegations against Rehman Malik levelled by his own party members; If his own party members are not satisfied with him then why not get rid of him? Turning to MQM’s counter Mirza’s allegations, the daily said the response of MQM leaders was less a reply to the Mirza critique and more of a criticism of Mirza. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

BALOCHISTAN
1. An irrigation project for 70,000 acres of land in Balochistan has been completed under the Public Sector Development Program, at the cost of Rs.84.95 crores. (Baad-e-Shimal)

PUNJAB
1. Punjab’s Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that Shahbaz Taseer is alive and safe. The government would soon free him from his kidnappers. (Kawish)

2. Khabrain editorially supported the demand of Opposition lawmaker Robia Rabab Malik’s demand for teaching the Chinese language in Punjab. (Khabrain Edit)

SINDH
1. A joint statement released by Bashir Quereshi of Jiye Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and others, has alleged total collapse of law and order all over Sindh province. The government is reduced to being a helpless spectator just to prolong its stay in power. The intervention of intelligence agencies is being felt throughout the province. (Awami Awaz)

2. There is tension in Lyari following the abduction of five Balochs from Ranchor Line. Shopkeepers pulled down their shutters out of fear. (Awami Awaz)

3. Munawar Hassan, leader of JI says that it is deplorable and condemnable that instead of taking action against MQM for the charges levelled against it by Zulfiqar Mirza, the government is earnestly going ahead in talks aimed in order to bring MQM back into the ruling coalition. (Awami Awaz)

4. ANP said it is not satisfied with the on-going operation in Karachi. The army has renewed its call for army take over of the operations against target killers. (Awami Awaz)

5. Sindh government has claimed that the recent rains have broken a 400 year record. Yet, the federal government is yet to announce a relief package. (Ibrat)

6. JI Secretary General Liyaqat Baloch said that media is not free in Karachi. He said if the media played its role freely, the situation would change immediately. (Jasarat)

7. Editorials in Ummat and Jang on the unrest in Karachi say: the government should not show any lenience now that the judiciary has taken a serious view of the situation. (Ummat Edit, Jang Edit)

POK NEWS
1. Shia Ulema Council met at Gilgit and took stock of targeted killing in the Gilgit division General Secretary of the Shia Ulema Council, Shaikh Sajjad Hussain Qasami, said that incidents of terrorism and firing near Basin, PTDC, are a result of the carelessness of law enforcement agencies and poor security. (Ausaf, 7 September)

2. Poor patients who go to Gilgit district hospital do not receive medicines. (Ausaf, 7 September)

3. Daily Dharti editorial has voiced grave concern over threat posed by forest mafia to the green cover in AJK. It criticised that there is no consolidated law for the protection of forests in AJK and said the forest mafia is actively involved in deforestation. The daily asked the AJK Government to stop illegal trade in forest products and the smuggling of wood. (Daily Dharti Edit)

4. Baad-e-Shimal editorially hailed Force Commander’s address to the people of GB, on Pakistan Defence Day and his call to people to give up sectarian bias. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)