AFGHANISTAN
1. Taliban have killed 165 Allied Forces in recent attacks. Every month more than 5000 Afghan soldiers are leaving the Afghan Army and this has raised question about the situation post-American withdrawal. The American and allies spent USD 20 billion on training Afghan forces which now seems to be a waste. (Al Qalam Weekly, 5-11 April)
INDIA
1.JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed said that back channel diplomacy was a wasteful exercise and added that no solution against the wish of Kashmiris would be acceptable to Kashmiris or Pakistanis. He added that Islamic topics were being removed from the school syllabus as part of a conspiracy. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. Water Movement of Pakistan leaders have alleged that India was constructing dams on Pakistani rivers with the help of Israel. Merely objecting to the Kishanganga and other dams was not enough. They added that practical steps were needed to stop India’s forced occupation of J&K Rivers. (Daily Pak)
3. Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial on track-2 diplomacy talks in Singapore says that India has been playing with Pakistan for a long time and has been killing the time by conducting such useless talks. Pakistan could not surrender its rights and interests over Kashmir. It adds that considering the history of talks, the people would understand the outcome of such talks and consider them a joke. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
4.Daily Dharti editorially commented on back channel diplomacy and negotiations in Singapore to resolve the Kashmir issue and expressed concern over not involving Kashmir leaders in negotiations. (Daily Dharti Edit)
UNITED STATES
1. Diplomatic sources said the US has made civil nuclear cooperation with Pakistan conditional to operations in tribal areas; Pakistan should ensure abolishing safe havens of terrorists in FATA area who are involved in terrorism on Indian and Afghan soil, and has also expressed concern over China’s increasingly secret and open nuclear cooperation with Pakistan. (Roznama Dunya)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. ‘Ghazwat-e-Nabi Conference’ (Battles Fought by Prophet Muhammad) was organized at Saiwal division Gol-Chowk, Okada in which Maulana Abdur Rashid and Maulana Talhe As-Saif delivered speeches. Talhe said that for renaissance of Muslims they will have to make Muslims aware of the battles fought by Prophet Muhammad and stated that where the Prophet dripped his blood, they too have to offer their blood. Talhe added that due to this reason Maulana Azhar Masood had given instructions to organize programs on this topic. Allah had asked the Prophet Muhammad to establish Islam over the other faiths and hence the Prophet went to battle in spite of the fact that then Muslims were not powerful.
Talhe said that mujahideen who were followers of the Prophet stood firm in the fight against non-believers and Allah was helping them. He claimed that kafirs were running away whereas mujahideen were doing their job. Talhe said that if there would be no programs of mujahideen, people say that they were afraid and if they organize programs, they are being accused that somebody was behind them.
Talhe said that today he was revealing the truth that only Allah was behind the mujahideen and stated that if people want to know about what work they are doing then they should ask to the enemy. He said that mujahideen of their organization will keep saying always ‘Sabilana Sabilan-Al Jihad Al Jihad (Arabic, means: Our Way, Our Way- Jihad. Jihad), Tarikana Tarikana- Al Kitaal Al Kitaal (Arabic means: Our Method Our Method- Killing.Killing). A large numbers of local Ulema attended program including Mufti Ghulam Mahmood, Maulana Abdul Qadir, Maulana Attaullah, Maulana Qari and others. 2500 people attended the program.(Al Qalam Weekly, 5-11 April)
2.Saadi writes in his column that when Pervez Musharraf was in power, he was a tyrant and a dangerous dictator and that he himself had written many things against Musharraf. Now he doesn’t want to write anything against Musharraf. Saadi writes that a cowardly man inflicted more atrocities on others when he came into power and writes that tyranny is bad no matter who does it. Saadi writes that Musharraf threw the nation into a gorge into which the country was still slipping deeper. Saadi writes against tyranny and cruelty and advises administrators of organizations to be kind and serve the people. Saadi salutes those who continued spreading the messages of religion, jihad and courage during the tenure of cowardly and cruel Musharraf and states that now Musharraf has returned to Pakistan when is old and powerless. Saadi writes that now people are throwing shoes on Musharraf who was once a tyrant and powerful and states that columnists are listing his crimes. (Al Qalam Weekly, 5-11 April)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1.According to a news survey, a majority of Pakistanis are fed up with democracy and support military rule. 94% of the youth support having Islamic laws. In 2009, 86% people were not satisfied with the government. (Khabrain)
2. Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahangir has raised concerns over asking candidates to recite prayers or verses by returning officers. She remarked that candidates are submitting nomination papers and not appearing for an exam on Islamic studies. (Jasarat)
3. The Deputy Secretary General of PML(N) Hasan Iqbal has demanded that the Election Commission should reject the nomination papers of Pervez Musharraf on the basis of Article 6, which is even more important that Articles 62 and 63. He said that along with those having bogus degrees, those who formulated dubious laws should also be held incapable of participating in elections. The Supreme Court has already held constitutional changes done by Pervez Musharraf invalid, he said. (Jinnah)
4. Nominated member of PPP, Faisal Sakhi Butt has said that PPP has done developmental work in Islamabad during its tenure, the like of which was not done in the last 25 years. He said that most of the projects are complete, and many more will be completed shortly. He said that there is shortage of clean drinking water in Islamabad, and the government has signed agreements with the Chinese for clean water projects. (Jinnah)
5. Shahin Sehbai is critical that scrutiny process of political candidates is done in a very unprofessional and haphazard manner. Sehbai writes that the returning officers do not know about the scrutiny process and at times are asking funny questions and at times are insulting candidates but the basic important questions, pertaining to tax default and dual citizenship are not asked. Sehbai writes that the confusion has been created as part of a conspiracy and unknowingly the Election Commission has been caught in this. Sehbai suggests that before he gets blamed for the next election, it would be better for the Election Commissioner to resign to save his name. (Jang)
6. Jasarat edit justifies the instruction of the Election Commission to reshuffle all federal and provincial secretaries and other chiefs of all government offices. It say since the establishment influences the election in Pakistan, reshuffling of heads of institutions would be good for free and fair election. (Jasarat Edit)
7. Editorials have appeared on the terrorist attack on a grid station near Peshawar. Expressing concern that now terrorists are targeting government personnel, the editorials urged strict security for power houses. (Jang Edit, Roznama Dunya Edit)
8. Jinnah writes that for transparent elections, the Election Commission has ordered changes from top to bottom in the bureaucracy. (Jinnah Edit)
9..Irfan Siddiqui in his column is critical of the Election Commission’s scrutiny of candidates’ credentials based on Articles 62 and 63. He comments that there are better measures to judge candidates’ eligibility. (Jang)
10. Hamid Mir writes about his visit to Uzbekistan and is sad to see how history has been mutilated by destroying the graves of distinguished members of the prophet’s family. (Jang)
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Taliban have reportedly called all candidates contesting election from NA-41 constituency in South Waziristan to their headquarters. On Wednesday a pamphlet was distributed in Rustam Bazar and Wana asking all candidates to be present at the office of Taliban commander Aidaullah as important issues were to be discussed. (Jasarat)
PUNJAB
1. Religious forces and Ulema have opposed the decision taken by the caretaker government in Punjab to celebrate Basant. Religious leaders have warned that if any unwanted incident take place during Basant then the CM will be responsible for it. Legal experts have termed the decision of the Punjab government as a violation and contempt of court. (Ummat)
2. Punjab administration has approved the arrest 115 members of banned terrorist outfits. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
SINDH
1. Deputy convener of MQM Rabta Committee in Karachi Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that they haven’t made any promise with former President Pervez Musharraf to give him a seat to contest elections in Karachi. (Jasarat)
POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Former President Musharraf said that he did a lot for the upliftment of Gilgit-Baltistan and will soon visit the region. He appreciated Chief Organizer Kareem Khan for his efforts to make AMPL functional in GB. (Bang-e-Sahar)
2. A delegate of Chilas Ulema and leaders had a meeting with district administration of Diamer and assured them of full cooperation in arresting notorious criminals. An 8 member committee has been formed with Haji Haider Khan, Maulana Wakil Shah, Nambardar Sheer Muhammad, Haji Ameer Jan, Maulana Shehzad Khan, Maulana Shehzad Khan, Maulana Azizur Rahman and Maulana Sarwar Shah to assist authorities in arresting culprits. (Baad-e-Shimal)
3. The federation has approved an Rs.1.50 billion grant to the GB Government for upgrading the Gilgit, Chilas and Skardu hospitals. (Baad-e-Shimal)
4. PML-N Poonch district Supreme head Sufi Afsar Sardar Mod Afsar Khan has expressed concern on delaying funds from the AJK government to the Sheikh Zaid Hospital in Rawalakot and warned that protests will be held if funds are not released by 10th April. (Daily Dharti)
5. Noman Zargaran was appointed as PML-N Youth Wing senior president in Rawalakot. (Daily Dharti)
6. Baad-e-Shimal edit says that it was expected that the GB Government would utilize the Rs.50 crore received from the federation in developmental projects transparently. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
7. Bang-e-Sahar and, Baad-e-Shimal have welcomed the Peace Conference held in Gilgit Baltistan for ensuring peace and harmony in the region. It was important that the government should investigate and let the public know who the main players were behind spreading terrorism and anarchy. The role of everyone at the government and the non-government level should also be explained and then only people would be able to plan against terrorism. (Bang-e-Sahar Edit, Baad-e-Shimal)
