AFGHANISTAN
1. In an operation, against ISAF and Afghan forces, Afghanistan officials have arrested LeT’s senior commander. Pakistan’s security establishment has been informed about the arrest of the LeT commander without giving out his name. (Jang)
UNITED STATES
1. The former secretary of Election Commission of Pakistan, Kanwar Dilshad, talking to Jang, said that statements issued by diplomats from the US, India, UK, and other European countries concerning the election process in Pakistan is in fact interference in Pakistan’s election process. He said that the ECP should take notice of this and issue instructions to all foreign diplomats to keep away from political leaders during the election process. (Jang)
2. Jasarat in an editorial comment on the Boston blasts writes that though President Obama said that they didn’t know who was behind the attacks, Muslims in the US were scared. Edit says that earlier, on pretext of similar incidents, Muslims were accused in the US of being behind conspiracies of blasts which had not taken place. Edit writes that for any incident of terrorism in India, Muslims are accused without any investigation and Indian Police arrests Muslim youth and puts them in jails where they languish for years. (Jasarat Edit)
DEFENCE/SECURITU
1.Addressing officials at the Command and Staff College, Chairman of Joints Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen. Khalid Shamim Wynne said that Pakistan’s armed forces were modernized and were active in every respect. Pakistan’s armed forces could counter any conventional or unconventional threat. Khalid stressed that professional training, especially on conventional and non-conventional warfare and leadership qualities helped to win wars. (Jasarat, Urdupoint)
2. Secretary of the Election Commission, Ishtiyaq Ahmed Khan in an interview to APP, said that except in Punjab, security situation in the country is not satisfactory. Situation in Karachi, Quetta, FATA and a few areas in KP is critical. Hence military and paramilitary squads will be deployed in these areas. (Jang)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1.In his Friday (April 12) sermon at Jamia Masjid Al-Qadsiya, JuD chief Hafiz Saeed said that Musharraf committed a major crime by abolishing the Hudood ordinance on US orders. He also criticised the silence of all political parties on American priest Terry Jones’ plans against the Quran for the 9/11 anniversary. Hafiz said that if Muslims perform their duties properly, a large number of Muslims living in the US will also stand up for the protection of the prophet’s dignity.” (Tehreek Hurmat-e-Rasool website)
2.Detention of LeJ’s Malik Ishaq as well as others of a banned religious outfit has been increased by one more month. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
3.Sources have said that LeJ was controlling its network from the central jail. (Daily Pak)
4.Taliban in North Waziristan have issued a fresh dictum according to which boys and girls have been banned from going to school in the cantonment area till security forces lift their siege of tribal belt. Taliban are desperate as the main supply line of Miranshah is closed and hence, the Taliban Shura under the leadership of Hafiz Gul Bahar warned parents against sending children to the 5 schools in the Miranshah cantonment. The statement of the Taliban Shura said that until the road is not opened for the common people, children will not be permitted to attend schools and if any student violated the ban, he or she will be responsible for the consequences. (Jasarat, Ummat)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1.Chief of Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen Allama Nasir Abbas Rizvi said that they were ready for a political alliance with all those parties which will declare publicly that they had no ties to terrorists. (Ummat)
2.Former Chief of ISI Gen (Retd) Hamid Gul said that Pervez Musharraf should be treated as per the law. He added that the killers of democracy and constitution deserve no mercy. (Bang-e-Sahar)
3.Senators from different political parties have taken objections to the caretaker administration holding talks for funds from IMF. They also demanded that the caretaker administration should not enter into any pact with IMF for these new loans. (Kawish)
4.Election Commission has banned the entrance of journalists inside EC offices across Pakistan. (Jasarat)
5.Secretary, Election Commission Ishtiyaq Ahmed Khan said that the EC had not issued any instructions to stop political parties from asking for votes in the name of religion. People’s Representation Act 1976 clearly stated that people cannot be forced to cast votes in the name of religion, sect, and provincialism. However, Political and religious parties could ask for votes in the name of their ideology and manifesto. (Jasarat)
6.JI Chief Syed Munawar Hassan has urged people to vote for JI to get real change in Pakistan and for a bright future. (Jasarat)
7.JI candidate from NA-126 JI Secretary General Liyaqat Baloch said that unfair elections will be dangerous for Pakistan and its people. He said the Army and the civilian establishment alone were no longer in a position to keep the nation united. (Jasarat)
8.APML will go to the SC against the decision of the Election Tribunal which rejected Musharraf’s candidature. APML has announced protest demonstrations across Pakistan against Musharraf’s disqualification from NA-32 Chitral. (Jasarat)
9.Ummat edit on the disqualification of Musharraf’s candidature says it is a lesson to those who believed in the might of power. The once powerful Musharraf is now all alone as he has no support from any section. (Ummat Edit)
10.Daily Pak and Nawa-i-Waqt say Pervez Musharraf should not be disheartened and instead organize his party for the 2018 elections. It is possible that by then people would get convinced about his claim that he has come back to save Pakistan. (Daily Pak Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
11. Senate chairman Nayyar Bukhari took notice of threats to political parties from banned organizations. He is surprised at the lack of concern on the part of Chief Justice and security organizations over it. (Daily Dharti)
12.In his column, Nazir Naji hails the election manifestos of JuI (F) and PML (F) –both comparatively smaller parties.. He states that the two parties have given importance to minority classes; JuI (F) promises minorities equal rights and the right to set up their religious educational institutes while PML (F) has pledged to allocate 5 percent quota to minorities in government services and educational institutes, security cover to their places of worship and protection against forceful conversion of women. Naji writes that JuI (F has promised to reserve 15 % budget on education which so far no party has done. JuI (F) chief Fazlur Rahman has suggested production of hydropower to overcome the energy crisis and PML (F) has also included the energy issue in its manifesto promising to develop the use of alternate sources of energy. (Roznama Dunya)
13.In his column, Arif Bahar says though Lahore is the heart of politics in Pakistan, due to security concerns and threats, major political parties are not active in Lahore. PPP has lost fervour for elections and its entire focus was on Sindh. He says that in this election, PPP seems to be settled that whatever it gets, it will get due to luck. Zardari tried but didn’t get clearance for the next term and hence, he signed the Gwadar Port and Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline deals to keep the time bomb ticking between the next government and the international community. (Jasarat)
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1.ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has held the ECP and KP caretaker government responsible for blasts at ANP’s rally. He warned that if elections take place, the situation will deteriorate further. He said that they preferred to die rather than allow extremists to get hold of their land. He said that institutions in KP were not working properly and claimed that peace could be established if institutions mend their ways. (Jasarat)
2. KP caretaker CM has convened an all-party meeting today after taking a serious note of attacks on ANP leaders at Peshawar. All political parties and religious groups have been invited to this meeting. (Kawish)
3. Jang editorially hailed President Zardari’s call to tribals to participate in the elections and change their future. It observes that governments in the past have not done much for construction and development projects in FATA. After 9/11, due to Pakistan joining the war against terrorism, the tribal areas have become the centre for foreign terrorists who crossed the border and entered Pakistan. Drone attacks have made the tribes very sensitive to their security and hence the government should provide cooperation for their safety in order for them to participate in elections. (Jang Edit)
SINDH
1.The Accountant General, Sindh has stopped release of funds for development projects in Sindh due to fund crunch. As a result the continuation of work on development projects will stop. (Jang)
2. Pir Pagaro has convened a meeting of the 10-party alliance this evening to give a final shape to the list of candidates. (Kawish)
3. Supreme Court has sought a report on the ending of ‘No Go’ Areas in Karachi by today. The court also sought a report on action taken against all those behind the release of people facing murder charges. (Kawish)
4. Supreme Court has sent notices to Karachi Port chairman seeking explanation for the sale of the two islands and other land in Karachi. (Kawish)
5. ‘Stop payment’ orders have been issued to the State Bank and other treasury offices for any payments /cheques issued by the Sindh government as it is nearing the State Bank’s loan limit of Rs.15 billion. Reliable sources say that there has been a delay in the transfer of funds from the federal government while Sindh government has failed to control its expenses; it has already spent Rs. 14 billion. (Kawish)
6. As a result of Rangers’ targeted operations in Karachi, situation had improved in trade centres and markets. The business community has demanded more targeted operations. (Ummat)
BALOCHISTAN
1.A survey by an NGO shows that more than five lakh children in Balochistan do not attend school. There are 12,293 schools, out of which 8,090 schools are without any buildings, 846 have no ceiling, 9579 are without electricity and 8,827 are without toilets. (Jinnah)
2. There are only two candidates who enjoy overwhelming support from different sections of society in Bela, Lasbela, Othal, Lakhada, Solmiyani Wander, Hub and surrounding areas; one is Jam Kamal Khan and the other the Bhotani brothers. (Daily Intekhab)
3. In his article, Pervez Ali Soomro says that despite being resource-rich, Balochistan is increasingly being cut off from the main country due to the prevailing conditions. Soomro claims Baloch nationalists are being encouraged by international forces as part of a well thought-out strategy and these nationalists are not prepared to accept Pakistan’s Constitution and sovereignty. He claims that sectarian disturbances were making headlines in Balochistan; religious fundamentalism is also creeping in. He said just as Bengalis were being persecuted, similar persecution and oppression is being witnessed in case of minorities including Shias. Soomro says that the current scenario suggests that it will get worse. He says that Musharraf’s regime or even the last democratic government have all failed to resolve the Balochistan issue. Soomro says that since Balochistan shares its borders with Afghanistan and Iran, it is easy for terror elements and foreign intelligence officials to cross into Balochistan. He says that the continuing war against terror in Afghanistan has also played a role in spoiling conditions in Balochistan. He says that fugitive Taliban elements are running from Afghanistan and are consolidating themselves in Balochistan, which has led to a rise of religious fundamentalism in Balochistan. Soomro says growing attacks on Hazaras shows that Pakistan is again on Zia’s track. He claims that state-sponsored terrorism was behind the unrest and the real forces were missing. He mentions America’s growing frustration due to handing over of Gwadar Port to China and claims that the US can go to any extent to establish itself within Pakistan and that the US could keep an eye on Iran and China by having bases in Pakistan. Soomro says it is required to take the demands of locals of Balochistan seriously. He says that locals’ rights over their resources will have to be accepted and all nationalists would need to be wooed to take part in elections. He says this needed to be done to save Balochistan from breaking-up and not for the sake of political interests of a few. (Ibrat)
4. Government-run hospital in Mashakil area of Balochistan, which has been badly affected in the earthquake, is deprived of medical officials, staff and medicines. A volunteer of JuD, working in the earthquake affected areas, called up ‘Ummat’ and claimed that volunteer were shifting injured people to FC hospital with the help of local residents. (Ummat)
POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Surprisingly, political parties in their manifestos made no mention of Kashmir issue. Only customary references and phrases were used on Kashmir in the poll agendas. (Daily Dharti)
2.President Zardari will address a joint session of the AJK assembly and Kashmir Council today. During his visit to Kashmir he will meet political leaders in AJK. (Roznama Dunya)
3. Daily Dharti has voiced concern over Political parties of Pakistan not giving any importance to the Kashmir issue in their election agenda. Only customary references were made; no strategy was outlined on the Kashmir issue. The daily asked PTI to prove its allegation about the presence and activities of Kashmir muhajireen in Pakistan. (Daily Dharti Edit)
4. Chief Justice of AJK, Justice Azam Khan has ticked off public works officials for the delay in building judicial complex. He called for a monthly report on fund utilisation and progress of work. He has been assured that the work would be completed by October. (Daily Dharti)
5. Gilgit-Baltistan Speaker Wazir Baig said that the GB Government had approved giving the status of a district to areas not even qualified to become a Tehsil. He added that no one had consulted him regarding the formation of Hanza Nagar headquarters on 18th April. (Bang-e-Sahar)
6. CEC of GB has decided to conduct local body elections after the by-election. (Bang-e-Sahar)
7. Sources said that GB Chief Secretary Sajjad Salim Hotiyana has instructed the Education Secretary to stop transfers and promotions of officials till the end of this academic year; the move was appreciated by the Ulema as well. It was said that Hotiyana foiled a conspiracy to remove the Director of Baltistan Education who had submitted a list of 207 ghost teachers to the Chief Secretary. (Bang-e-Sahar)
8. Bang-e-Sahar editorial criticizes the Gilgit-Baltistan Government and its officials for making irresponsible statements. GB IG Osman Zakaria’s statement that foreign money was involved in spreading terrorism in GB was nothing new as even CM Mehdi Shah and others had expressed such a view much earlier. It’s a fact that the government and even the secret agencies had the idea that external money was being used in disturbing peace in the region but no one was ready to find out a way to stop this problem. Edit writes that government and the authorities have been eating up all the money under the guise of peace and were blaming external money to shed the burden off their shoulders. The authorities should stop such hypocrisy and work with sincerity to maintain the law and order in Gilgit-Baltistan. (Bang-e-Sahar)
9. Baad-e-Shimal has criticised the levy of fee on poor patients in government hospitals. The demand by the PML-N GB Chapter that the fee should be withdrawn is quite justified and so is its decision to drag the government to the court if the fee decision is not revoked in a month’s time. The daily points out that the government hospitals were already in pathetic condition and charging fees from patients would only aggravate the problem. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
10. Baad-e-Shimal in another edit says that as GB Inspector General Osman Zakaria has vowed to carry out targeted action against notorious elements, it was necessary that the police should remain vigilant since radicals could try to disturb peace in a bid to stop such targeted action. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
