INDIA
1. JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has said that India is being used to de-face Pakistan after the satanic powers had suffered a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan. He added that the Muslim community should come together on one platform to face such conspiracies. Saeed also alleged that the Indian Consulates in Afghanistan are terrorist factories. (Daily Pak)
2. In order to falsely implicate Pakistan in the Mumbai and Pathankot attacks, reports were being issued that a Pakistani national in Dubai, named Abdur Razzaq, was planning attacks in Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. (Roznama Dunya)
3. Columnist Qari Navid Masood Hashmi writes that Pakistani leaders are more worried about the defence and security of India and cites how NSA Janjua had shared with New Delhi intelligence input about the possibility of terrorist attacks in Indian cities. Pakistani government has also filed a FIR in the Pathankot attack case in Gujranwala yet India did not stop their conspiracies to split Pakistan. The arrest of RAW agent, Kulbhushan Jadhav from Balochistan has proved that Pakistan, its media, Army and the intelligence agencies are on India’s radar and that India has been following a policy to split Balochistan and Karachi. Qari also writes that those who loved jihad-e-Kashmir were an eye-sore for Nawaz Sharif’s government but now the arrest of the RAW agent had put a question mark over the steps that the government was taking and was likely to take against India. (Al Qalam Weekly, 1-7 April)
PAKISTAN-INDIA
1. International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned about return of violence in Nepal, since the pro-India minority group is upset over the new constitution. Their negotiations with the Nepali government have not been successful. (Jasarat)
2. India has failed to provide concrete evidence against JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar’s involvement in the Pathankot airbase attack. (Jasarat)
3. Raja Bashir Usmani writes in Jasarat: people are disappointed by the silence maintained by Prime Minister Sharif on the arrest of the RAW agent. (Jasarat)
4. New wave of jihad is gaining momentum in Kashmir according to the BBC. (Ummat)
ARMY
1.Munir Ahmed Baloch writes that while Balochistan, KP, and Sindh governments laud the military operations against terrorists and foreign agents in their provinces, the Punjab government does not acknowledge the Army’s contribution. Military agencies were busy in operations against the TTP, RAW, Mossad, Al-Qaeda, Jamat ul Ahrar, Jaish ul Islam, LeJ, SSP, Ehle Sunnat wal Jamat, Baloch Nationalist Group, NDS, etc. So far the Pakistani Security agencies have carried out 396 major operations against terrorists and anti-Pakistan elements. Baloch also credits Kulbhushan Jadhav’s arrest to the Pakistani security agencies. (Roznama Dunya)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Sources have claimed that while most terrorists had fled to Afghanistan after the Pakistani Army’s successful operations in KP, few terrorists had shifted to South Punjab via Dera Ismail khan and Taunsa. “These terrorist are in touch with the Afghan secret agency and RAW”. (Ummat)
2. To make the operations against terrorism a success, a sensitive department has prepared a strategy to work jointly with police and other departments at the lower levels. Sensitive agencies along with police will operate against suspects in all areas. (Roznama Dunya)
3. JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch, while addressing a seminar at the Karachi Press Club, said that some forces wanted to make the Blasphemy Law ineffective. At the behest of imperialist forces the country is being made liberal and secular, he said, and added no law, other than the Quran and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, would be allowed in Pakistan. (Jasarat)
4. Islamic Ideology Council claimed that the clauses in the Women Protection Acts of KPK and Punjab are in contradiction to Sharia laws. The government should either revoke these laws or suitably amend them. The IIC would prepare an alternate bill if requested by the Government. (Daily K2)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Express TV reported that Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif was not happy with PM Sharif after rumours that PM Sharif was mulling over making his daughter Mariam Nawaz the next Prime Minister. Mariam accompanied PM Sharif on his last US visit. Since then speculation is ripe that she is being groomed to succeed Nawaz. (Pk Voices)
2. Awami Muslim League Chief, Shaikh Rashid, said that the country is heading towards civil disobedience. Only the Army could save Pakistan from civil disobedience. If Dr. Asim is charged in money laundering case, then PM Sharif should also not be held above the law. (Pk Voices)
3. JI Chief Siraj-ul-Haq has said that the money looted from the people of Pakistan has been invested in off -shore companies. The ruthlessness of the leaders who had imposed heavy taxes on the masses stands exposed. (Jasarat)
4. Sitar Sirohi writes that the surprising aspect of the current Panama leaks is that these relate to one law firm. There are hundreds of such firms engaged in money laundering. So, we should be prepared for many more revelations in the coming days. (Kawish)
5. In editorial comments on Panama Papers, several dailies said: Pakistan should sincerely, seriously and transparently investigate the disclosures instead of starting a blame game. (Ibrat, Kawish, Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Jang, Roznama Dunya and Khabrain)
6. Commenting on Panama Leaks, Nazir Naji writes: in a capitalist system, it was very difficult to avoid corruption in any nation. Even if stricter laws are framed against corruption, the corrupt elements find new intelligent ways for identifying loopholes. (Roznama Dunya)
BALOCHISTAN
1. The Balochistan Government is said to be open for talks with separatists and is ready to give a grand welcome to the Khan of Kalat. (Daily Pak, Roznama Dunya)
2.The Balochistan government has been authorised to collect sales tax in the tribal areas of the province with the President extending the Balochistan Revenue Authority Act 2015 to the tribal areas on the recommendation of Governor Mohammed Khan Achakzai. The authority to collect sales taxes on services in Balochi tribal areas was with the Federal government till October 2015. With the transfer of the authority to the provincial government, Quetta would have the authority to collect taxes from PPL, OGDC, and the tribal agencies producing oil and gas, and also from other tribal areas like Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Zhob, and Chagai. (Daily Intekhab)
POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Gilgit-Baltistan government has decided to handover the Satpara Dam’s management to WAPDA for uninterrupted supply of electricity to Skardu City. (Baad-e-Shimal)
2. Participants in a workshop on AJK elections called for a thorough review of the arrangements to ensure a transparent election. The Kashmir Institute of International Relations organised the workshop. The speakers also the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure transparent elections, and urged political parties and the civil society to play a positive role in this regard. (Daily Dharti Edit)