SOURCE:Ausaf, Ummat, Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Urdu Point, Daily Jinnah, Awami Awaz, Daily Dharti, Jasarat, Kawish, Daily Intekhab, Daily Times, Jang, Ibrat, Khabrain, Roznama Dunya, Hizb Media, Al Qalam Weekly, Baad-e-Shimal, Bang-e-Sahar.
CHINA
1. Chinese leadership is disappointed over the slow progress in CPEC as no project was completed on schedule. But Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, asserted that no project was delayed. Work is being pushed forward as quickly as the Chinese grant was received. (Ummat)
POST- MANSOOR KILLING
1. New Taliban Chief Haibatullah has rejected the offer of Afghanistan government to declare Kabul a war free zone. He also ruled out negotiations till a date of US’ exit was finalised. Hazara Islami Shura had also accepted Haibatullah as their leader. (Ummat)
2. JuD chief Hafiz Saeed said that the Pakistani community would not accept the American threats of continuing drone attacks inside Pakistan. He said that the US wanted to terminate Pakistan’s nuclear programme. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Ummat)
3. Columnist Imtiaz Alam writes: in certain cases drone strikes took place with Pakistan’s consent and on some other occasions they took place without Pakistan’s knowledge. Undoubtedly drone attacks are breaching Pakistan’s sovereignty but Pakistan has been failing to abide by UN laws and resolutions that wanted militant hideouts to be dismantled. Pakistan is making compromises on its own sacrifices made against terrorism by taking to discriminatory policies vis-à-vis different militants. The world community is getting a sense that while Pakistan is making tall claims about not allowing its territory to be used by terrorists, dreaded figures like Taliban chief are being killed on Pakistani soil. This is compounding Pakistan’s woes. The death of Osama and Mullah Mansour on Pakistani soil showed that Pakistan had befriended them. So much so making too much noise against the drone strikes would only make Pakistan more isolated. In such a situation Afghanistan’s charge that Pakistan is sheltering Afghan Taliban seemed to be true. Pakistan would have to find a way through talks to engage with its neighbours. If China and India, despite their bitterness of the past, could engage with each other economically, and if India could simultaneously deal with Iran and Saudi Arabia, why could Pakistan not do the same? There is nothing wrong in learning from your enemies. (Awami Awaz)
UNITED STATES
1. Both Khabrain and Ausaf raise certain pertinent questions over the failed F-16 deal. Who is responsible for the delay in and the expiration of the F-16 deal with US, the two dailies ask and term the development as a bad omen at a time Pakistan is facing challenges from all sides and India is trying to isolate Pakistan from Iran, Bangladesh, and other brotherly Muslim countries. Some analysts hold this as Pakistan’s failure and India’s success. Prime Minister Nawaz has failed to appoint a full-time Foreign Minister. It is time for Pakistan to adopt a tough posture towards the US, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. (Khabrain Edit, Ausaf Edit)
2. Ausaf editorially supported Pakistan’s decision of not purchasing F-16s from the US. It criticised India for testing the BrahMos missile which upped its missile capability vis-à-vis Pakistan. The US and the international community do not take any action against India, even though it has initiated a nuclear weapons’ race in the region, the daily laments. (Ausaf Edit)
ARMY/SECURIY FORCES
1. Federal Minister for Defence production, Rana Tanveer Husain, said that Pakistan had become self-sufficient in its defence requirements. He said that the PAF has not suffered from the US’ denial of a few more F-16s. Instead of relying on the US, Pakistan would procure technology from other world markets. Husain also said that Pakistan’s nuclear program was superior to many other counties, particularly when compared to its nuclear neighbour. Pakistan has the world’s best missile and tank technology. Pakistan’s defence is insurmountable. According to him, the anti-Pakistan powers are trying to make the Chahbahar port operational, and it is Pakistan’s right to eliminate its enemies on any land used against Pakistan. (Urdu Point)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Religious parties have decided to revive the Difa-e-Pakistan Council once again to counter enemy conspiracies including aggressive attitude of the US and India and drone attacks. They are meeting today and the meet would be presided over by JUI-S chief Maulana Sami-ul Haq; those in attendance will include JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed and JI Chief Siraj-ul Haq. (Daily K2, Baad-e-Shimal, Jasarat, Jang, Roznama Dunya)
2. Annual ‘Sessions of Explanations of Verses of Quran about jihad’ ended successfully at fifty places across Pakistan. At these sessions, people were told that jihad was a permanent command of Quran, and the progress and defence of Muslims was Jihad related. The instruction was given in Urdu, Pashto and Balochi. Apart from Karachi, Quetta, and Kalat, this year special arrangements were made for women in Gujranwala and Daska. According to report over 15000 people participated in the concluding session. (Al Qalam Weekly, 27 May-2 June)
POLITICAL SCENE
1. Punjab CM and Federal Home Minister had gone all the way to Rawalpindi to meet the Army Chief, and that both of them were believed to be very close to the establishment and the Army Chief, says Shakar Solangi. He writes that the meeting suggested that something big was cooking, more with regards to Nawaz Sharif and not about a threat to the government. (Kawish)
2. Hamid Mir ticks off former CJP Chaudhary Iftikhar for his stand against Nawaz Sharif when many of his opponents, including Imran Khan and Zardari, have set aside their differences and wished him well on the eve of heart by-pass surgery. During the lawyers’ movement, Nawaz Sharif had his reservations against Iftikhar, and had sought Mir’s opinion. His advice was that the matter was not concerning just one individual but affecting 60 judges. So, going against his personal reservations, Nawaz Sharif supported the lawyer’s movement, Mir recalls. (Jang)
3. Kawish, Jang, Roznama Dunya and Nawa-i-Waqt have reacted to the criticism of the Chief Justice of Pakistan on the state of the nation, saying: “None of the state pillars are working sincerely but no one will come down from the heavens to bail us out. It is the government that has to set things right to weed out corruption. The Panama Leaks controversy has provided the most opportune moment for political parties to strive sincerely for a corruption free society. Nawa-i-Waqt said the best way ahead is to bind all the government departments to work as per the constitution and law. (Kawish Edit, Jang Edit, Roznama Dunya Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
4. Jang has voiced concern over the poor attendance in parliament. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended only nine time in a year while the PTI Chief Imran Khan had attended only five times. (Jang Edit)
5. Several dailies have commented on the national scene. “The country is not facing just one crisis but many. There is no progress on the Panama leaks issue, the much talked about investigations are at a standstill. The PM is away in London, and he is set to undergo a heart by-pass surgery. He will not be able to return home for another two weeks after that. It is still unclear as to who should look after the country’s affairs while the PM is recovering. Furthermore, tensions are rising with the US; there are also terror attacks, which keep adding to the social stress and in such times, political enmities will only make things worse. Ibrat asks whether PM’s presence is a must for passing the budget, and also whether the constitution provides for an interim premier or election of a new PM when the regularly elected PM is hospitalised. Moreover, a no-confidence motion cannot be moved against the PM while the budget session is on. Daily Pak states that instead of creating confusion over the issue and demanding a new interim PM it will be better if the matter is handled as per constitutional provisions. It will be the best way to shut all mouths. Roznama Dunya remarks that the Constitution has no provision for a stand-in PM and says it is essential to remove the flaw. (Ibrat Edit – May 29, Ibrat Edit, Daily Pak Edit, Roznama Dunya Edit)
BALOCHISTAN
1. Firing, killing, and militant activities continued in the interior areas of Balochistan. Two persons, including a Levis soldier, were killed in Zamoran in firing by unknown motor cycle borne attackers. In another incident of firing in the same town, two persons were injured. A bullet ridden dead body was recovered from Pasni Road. In Dasht, five men were killed, by unknown persons. (Daily Intekhab)
2. National Party leadership has called upon the people to prepare to save the Baloch identity in the face of CPEC incursion. Party President Hasil Bizenjo said that the Baloch race has been immensely harmed due to meaningless war while those who indulged in killings in the name of independence are comfortably sitting in their overseas homes. (Daily Intekhab, Roznama Dunya)
POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Shigar-Thang power project Director Fida Hussein claims that six big projects were removed from the annual development program including Thak Power Project, Gawadi electricity House, Cardiac Center in Gilgit, and Grid station in Skardu. He alleges that some elements in the federal government do not want big projects in Gilgit-Baltistan. (Daily K2)
2. Gilgit-Baltistan Education Minister Ibrahim Sanai said that he was offered crores for giving jobs in his education department but the PML-N Government has completely buried corruption practices that had flourished under the previous government. (Daily K2)
3. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission ensured support to Gilgit-Baltistan government for improvement in minerals and ores industry. (Baad-e-Shimal