RUSSIA
1. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the Russian Air chief has visited Pakistan. The chief of Russian Federation Air Force was welcomed at the Air Head Quarters-Islamabad by Pakistan Air Force Chief Marshal Tahir Rafiq Butt. The Russian delegation was given a briefing. This delegation also visited the Air Defense Command. (Urdupoint, Bang-e-Sahar)
AFGHANISTAN
1.A military delegation of Afghanistan headed by Director General Military Operations Maj. Gen. Afzal Aman visited General Head Quarters-Rawalpindi. (Urdupoint)
INDIA
1. Nawa-i-Waqt has editorially criticised Indian Defence Minister AK Antony for saying that Pakistan was a big threat to India and was responsible for Kashmir conflict. Noting that Antony had earlier objected to the Gwadar Port Project being entrusted to Chinese management, the edit said Pakistan was an independent nation and had complete right to formulate polices just like any other country. It added that India, America, UK, Russia and Australia and two other nations were working on an agreement of civil nuclear technology whereas no country was ready to provide the same to Pakistan due to American pressure. Edit said that undoubtedly Kashmir was the main reason for the dispute between the two nations but the danger could be averted only if the Kashmir issue was resolved as per UN resolutions and India holds the key to that. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
UNITED STATES/AFGHANISTAN
1. A 4-member high level American delegation will visit Pakistan to meet Fauzia Siddiqui to express solidarity with her. (Jang)
2. UN Special Envoy, Ben Emmerson, who is to prepare a report on American drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas, has warned that if the US continued drone attacks, the actions of Al Qaeda will get legal excuse. He said that if US drone attacks were not wrong, then Al Qaeda’s action will be considered legal too. Emmerson said that if it is legal for the US to target Al Qaeda members at any place that the US finds them, then it will be legal for Al Qaeda to target American Army and infrastructure wherever Al Qaeda finds them. (Ummat)
3. Ummat in its edit refers to the statement made by American author Webster Tarpley that Americans had initiated the Afghan war to split Pakistan and that the US was constantly trying to shift the war into Pakistan. Webster said that suicide attacks in Pakistan, which were a result of the Afghan war, had badly affected Pakistan and drone attacks were part of the same chain which aimed at shifting the Afghan war into Pakistan and creating chaos and anarchy. Edit writes that nationalist circles in Pakistan and independent international observers had claimed the same since the beginning of the Afghan war. It writes that the factors which failed this American conspiracy included Pakistan’s nuclear capability which was superior to that of India. Edit writes that if the US had taken aggressive steps against Pakistan, India too would have tried to take advantage and a nuclear war would have taken place. Edit writes that Pakistan was a beloved Muslim county and if the US had have attacked it, it wouldn’t have got support from Muslim countries. Edit refers to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and writes that if Taliban established their government again, then Pakistan and Afghanistan will be able to counter conspiracies of India and Israel. Edit claims that the US America will hand over many responsibilities to Israel and India in Afghanistan while withdrawing from Kabul. (Ummat Edit)
DEFENCE
1.Commander-Karachi Rear admiral Khwaja Ghaznafer Hussain has been promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral. (Jang, Roznama Duniya)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. 9 terrorists were killed in security forces’ operation in Hangu and one security force personnel was also killed. (Roznama Duniya)
2.JI Secretary General Liyaqat Baloch said Islam is the religion of Pakistan and that the Parliament and provincial assemblies cannot make laws against Quran and Hadis. Baloch said that the US and its agents in Pakistan were afraid the supremacy of Islam and of awakening of Islam. He claimed that Pakistan was created on Islamic ideology and hence, Islam was the ideology of Pakistan. (Jasarat)
3. Leaders of Muttahida Deeni Mahaz Allama Aurangzeb Farooqi, Mufti Osman Yar Khan, Maulana Hazrat Wali and others said that a conspiracy has been hatched to eliminate the two-nation theory on which Pakistan was founded. (Jasarat)
4. Chief of Majlis-e-Aima Masjid Maulana Asad Thanvi and other Ulema have reacted angrily against the genocide of Muslims in Myanmar and have demanded that the government end diplomatic ties with Myanmar. MAM also demanded that other Muslim countries protest against Myanmar. (Ummat)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1.Commandos of Gilgit-Baltistan have taken the responsibility of Musharraf’s security. These commandos had served Musharraf even during his presidency and Musharraf trusts them. (Bang-e-Sahar, Baad-e-Shimal)
2. Former chief of ISI Gen (Retd) Hamid Gul has demanded action against former President Musharraf. He said Musharraf should not have returned to Pakistan. Gul said that he returned due to wrong advice of some of his friends and now he was trapped. The killers of democracy and Constitution do not deserve to be let off. Gul rejected the possibility of martial law and stated that elections would be held on time. He said that no other system will work in Pakistan except democracy. (Jasarat)
3. Chairman of Defence of Human Rights Amna Masood Jhanjua has demanded that Musharraf be tried for selling off Pakistani nationals for money to foreigners. Amna demanded that Musharraf be arrested and questioned where he sold off the ‘disappeared people’. (Ummat)
4. Musharraf has no status in politics and will not be able get anything from politics. (Baad-e-Shimal)
5. Chief of JUI (Karachi) Qari Muhammad Osman said that the ECP should not cross its constitutional limits and claimed that the guidance issued by the ECP that voters could not be lured by religion was against the Constitution of Pakistan. Osman said that JUI will foil every conspiracy to make Pakistan a secular state. (Jasarat)
6. JUI-F leader Hafiz Hussain said that the real problem of the people was not ‘Benazir Income’ but ‘Zardari Income’. He added that Bilawal will have to prove whether he is Zardari or Bhutto. (Bang-e-Sahar)
7. Columnist Irfan Siddiqui writes that instead of running an election campaign, Musharraf’s time is spent in appearing before various courts where complaints have been filed against him. Edit upholds that the Army chief is responsible for any military action even though other military commanders were consulted for the same. (Jang)
8. Columnist Nazir Naji says that political leaders, who said they wanted to bring about a change in the society, were very vague in their election manifesto. These leaders should specify what change they are talking about. Imran Khan was a very good cricket player but he is not a good politician and he should realise that. Naji gives examples of 2 great Indian leaders from showbiz – Dilip Kumar, who never entered politics knowing that he was not made for politics and Amitabh Bachchan, who briefly joined politics but soon realised he was not meant for it and got out. (Roznama Duniya)
9. A former federal minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdaus Ashiq Awan has given away Rs. 6 crore to her NGO, which she had received from the government as development fund for her constituency. (Jang)
10. Under instructions from ECP, in order to hold transparent and fair elections, the SSP of Mirpur Khas Farooq Ahmed Jamali has been transferred and Noman Siddiqui has been appointed in his place. More large-scale transfers and appointments are expected. (Jang)
11.Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Arif Nizami sanctioned a 10% hike in government advertisement to newspapers. While speaking with members of All Pakistan Newspaper Society, Arif Nizami said that the media should present the policy of the government without any prejudices. APNPS presented a list of demands and issues to be resolved by I&B Ministry which includes threats issued to newspapers in Balochistan. (Jasarat)
12. Jang edit refers to the new code of conduct issued by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which restricts candidates from soliciting votes in the name of religion. Welcoming the code, the daily said if leaders of major parties attract the public in the name of religion, it will be unfair for minority community candidates. It rejects the criticism that such a ban is against Pakistan ideology. The daily points out that Pakistan needs unity and stability and not division in the name of religion or sects, especially in view of Taliban attacks on election rallies and separatist outfits in Balochistan planning to stop people from elections. (Jang Edit)
13. Roznama Duniya also has upheld the ECP’s new code of conduct, saying that it is in synch with the democracy. It says using religion to attract voters was exploitation of religion. (Roznama Duniya Edit)
14. Jasarat however cautions the ECP not to become a tool in the hands of secular forces. It warns that if this happens, then the EC will be considered as controversial and biased. Islam is the identity of Pakistan and is the foundation of security of Pakistan. People are fed up of secularists who supported the American led war in the region. (Jasarat Edit)
15. ECP was printing 18 crore ballot papers, 78 lakhs more than required for 100% voting of 17.22 crore. Ssuch excess numbers could lead to poll rigging whereas the ECP spokesperson clarified that extra ballot papers were to manage any odd situation. (Daily Pak)
ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1.Senate’s Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs and Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan affairs was held on Monday. It expressed concern over the slow speed of restoration work for the Attabad Lake affected people. It asked departments concerned departments to speed up work on relief and reconstruction. The committee was informed that Gilgit-Baltistan has the capacity to produce 40000-50000 MW of electricity. (Urdupoint)
2. Electricity shortfall has crossed 600 MW and that people are suffering due undeclared 18-20 hours load shedding every day. (Bang-e-Sahar)
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1.President Zardari said that the people of FATA should themselves mend conditions as no power from outside will come to correct things. (Jinnah)
2. Jang editorially expressed concern over attacks on election rallies, especially the recent attack on ANP rally in KP which killed a ANP leader. It urges the ECP as well as the caretaker government to intensify security arrangements for candidates; otherwise, this will affect the election process. (Jang Edit)
3. Roznama Duniya in its edit on bomb blast in KP that killed a ANP leader says that ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has already warned the ECP of the danger of such attacks and told the poll body that it would be responsible if any of his party leaders are killed. Edit says that the ECP alone was not responsible for the safety of the candidates. It refers to the Taliban threat of targeting election rallies and their special targets being PPP, ANP and MQM. It says that the Taliban will try to sabotage the election process in Pakistan as democracy does not fit into their structure. (Roznama Duniya Edit)
4. Daily Pak and Nawa-i-Waqt have also expressed anguish at the Swat bomb blast that killed a ANP leader. The dailies said this is no more than a bid to sabotage elections. Asking the government to ensure proper protection to candidates, the dailies said since TTP has accepted the responsibility for these attacks, the time has come to deal the radicals with an iron hand. (Daily Pak Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
SINDH
1. IGP Sindh Shahid Nadeem Baloch has cancelled leave of the entire police department until the elections are over in May. (Jang, Roznama Dunya)
2. MQM has closed down 71 sectors and units to protect its activists from unleashed targeted operations by Rangers. MQM has instructed all post holders to not go to their residences and activists have been shifted to safe places near Nine-Zero. MQM has also stopped activities in 13 areas due to fear of Taliban and it was avoiding running election campaigns in the areas which were under the influence of the Aman Committee. Rangers are continuing targeted operations on information received from arrested MQM activists. (Ummat)
3 Jasarat edit is on the CID Police claim that they had failed a plot of terrorism in Karachi and the terrorist module wanted to target the American Consulate, MQM’s headquarters Nine-Zero, Abbasi Shahid Hospital and office of AVC. The daily says this claim was made after the arrest of TTP terrorist Gul Aslam Mehsood. On identification by Aslam Mehsood, a hub of terrorists was raided at Sarjani Town, in which Mehsood also died in the exchange of fire. Edit writes that it was suspicious that if Mehsood had indeed provided a lead to them, how CID could claim that Mehsood also died in exchange of fire? Edit writes that the situation of Pakistan was becoming similar to that in India where if any incident of terrorism takes place, Muslims are immediately accused whereas independent agencies have revealed the role of Indian secret agencies behind many terrorist attacks. (Jasarat Edit)
BALOCHISTAN
1 Balochistan High Court has issued notice to caretaker government for publishing and displaying posters of Bilawal Bhutto during his Quetta visit. (Ummat)
2. Balochistan Republican Party organized rallies in different parts of Balochistan for boycotting elections. Party spokesperson Sher Mohammad Bugti said that abductions had increased, human rights violations had risen, and that human rights groups and other related institutions should take note of these serious incidents. Protest marches were held at Quetta, Dera Murad Jamali and Dera Bugti. (Daily Intekhab)
3. According to Baloch National Party candidate Qasim Ranjhoo, Balochs were backward because they did not have real representation in Parliament. He said that trillions were collected from Gadani, but not a single rupee was spent on its residents. (Intekhab)
POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Gilgit-Baltistan IG Osman Zakaria said that external funds were being used in spreading terrorism in Gilgit-Baltistan. He added that the Police was carrying out only targeted action against notorious criminals and that no operation was going in Darel Tangir with the help of secret agencies and the leaders and the advisors of the peace committee. (Bang-e-Sahar, Baad-e-Shimal)
2.Gilgit-Baltistan Human Rights President Vilayat Balti said that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan should boycott general elections in Pakistan and observe 11th May as a black day. He added that Pakistan did not value the votes of the people living in Gilgit-Baltistan for Senate, National and provincial assemblies but they were valued only if the citizens of Gilgit-Baltistan were present in other parts of Pakistan. (Baad-e-Shimal)
3. Senator Farhatullah Babar has asked the Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan to provide details regarding the reaction of people affected by the Attabad Lake incident and those arrested during anti-government protests. Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan Sajjad Saleem Hotiyan said that only an airway remained to be moved from one side of the lake to the other and that rehabilitation work was going on only on one side. He added that there was no grid station in Gilgit-Baltistan and if a grid station was developed, electricity generated at domestic level could also be supplied to Pakistan. (Bang-e-Sahar, Baad-e-Shimal)
4.CM Mehdi Shah has promised to make all 1100 contract employees permanent over the next two years. He added that a big hospital would be constructed with the help of the Agha Khan Foundation in Gilgit, apart from a hospital in Skardu. (Bang-e-Sahar)
5. PML-N (Gilgit-Baltistan) chief Hafizur Rahman has asked the Gilgit-Baltistan government to stop collecting taxes from poor patients in the name of treatment in government hospitals. He added that the government would be challenged in the court if it failed to stop this wrong practice in a month’s time. (Baad-e-Shimal)
6. Bang-e-Sahar expressed concern over violence between two groups in Thor of Chilas district that claimed many lives. . (Bang-e-Sahar Edit)
7. Baad-e-Shimal edit said though CM Mehdi Shah announcement of making all contract employees permanent over the next two years is welcome, he has made many such announcements in the past only to forget them later. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
