AFGHANISTAN
Analyst Talhe Assaif writes that allied forces in Afghanistan are being killed routinely in fidayeen attacks, roadside bomb blasts and firings. He writes that the other difficulty allied forces are facing is sudden open fire by Afghan military personnel who they are training. Assaif writes that a couple of days ago, an Afghan lady opened fire and killed an instructor and states that training officers recruited to train Afghan troops were living under fear. (Al Qalam Weekly, 5 April to 11 April)
INDIA
1. UJC and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahuddin said that political, consular and armed struggle will continue unless the Kashmir issue was resolved. He said that due to India’s black laws and America’s support, the place of jihad would change. He alleged that every Kashmiri was seen as a terrorist in India and urged the Hurriyat faction to come together on one platform. He said that militant acts in urban areas were an answer to those forces who claim that militancy has ended. He claimed that militants were present from Mizhal to Samba border areas. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
UNITED STATES
1. US and UK have started efforts to postpone elections since they don’t expect these elections will have the results they want but military and political leadership is firm on holding elections, according to sources. The sources also said election cells of UK and US consulates were collecting data from various constituencies and were interfering in the process of seat adjustment between various smaller parties. Sources close to the American election cell claim that an American diplomat tried to influence PML-N into giving a ticket to the candidate of their choice but their demands were only accepted for 2 or 3 seats and since then, the US has been disappointed. A circle of American election cell believes that if PML-N gets 2/3rd majority, it will not remain under US control which will not be acceptable to the US. This cell claims that if PML-N gets majority and resolves the energy and trade crises, then it will be able to oust Pakistan from American control. (Ummat)
2. In his column, Arif Bahar writes that politics in Pakistan could not be completely free from external interference and states that once Pakistan becomes economically independent, this dream could be realized but currently, there was no possibility of it. Bahar refers to various reports and states that after 9/11, the US sought a new role model for the Muslim world to reduce Saudi Arabia’s influence and to create a middle path for American acceptance for the Muslim world. Bahar writes that after America’s failure to make Iraq an alternate of Saudi Arabia, it shifted its focus to Turkey. Bahar writes that after 9/11, Turkey has been gradually propped up as the ideal Muslim nation, which has demonstrated interest in the affairs of Muslim countries around the world. Edit claims that in the future, affairs in Pakistan will be influenced by Turkey’s interference. Bahar writes that Turkey has been chosen as a role model for Pakistan, and states that Pakistan was not well equipped yet to understand and follow the language and directions of Turkey. (Jasarat)
DEFENCE/SECURITY
1.Unidentified militants threw a hand grenade at people standing in a queue outside the NADRA office for ID cards in Kharan, Balochistan. (Jang)
2. 4 rockets were fired at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar but there were no casualties. It is not known who fired the rockets and who the target was. (Urdupoint)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1.Addressing the ‘Jihad Hind’ Conference, JuD leader Professor Hafiz Mohammad Saeed alleged that Musharraf was involved in the Lal Masjid carnage, drone attacks and the general massacre of Afghan and tribal people. He said Musharraf returned to Pakistan to face his bad deeds. He accused India, Israel and the US of carrying out tactics to capture natural resources of Middle East countries via Gwadar. He said they had to avenge for East Pakistan, Hyderabad Deccan, and Junagadh.. He said Indian Interior Minister revealed to the international country the true story behind the Samjhauta Express tragedy and now they had to avenge it. He said India was accountable of Babri Masjid. He said India was involved in the ‘Sindhu Desh’ conspiracy. He criticized Pakistan’s government for terming India as MFN. (Khabrain)
2.As per Jinnah, the ‘Nazarya-e-Pakistan’ or the ideology of Muslim League was based on the principle that the Muslim Hindustan will have an independent identity. Jinnah had said that any effort to malign this identity would not only be resisted but in his opinion, it would be a fruitless struggle. While addressing the 28th Annual All India Muslim League Convention on 14th April, 1941 in Madras, Jinnah had said that the AIML has vowed to obtain the status of an independent community and an autonomous state in the sub-continent, and that there shall be no confusion in this regard. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
3.Maulana Muhammad Mansoor writes that democracy was an illusion which could not be linked to Islam. He says that that Islam had nothing to do with democracy. Mansoor writes that people should understand Islam and should strive for it. (Al Qalam Weekly, 5 April to 11 April)
4. TTP Chief Hakimullah Mehsood said that democracy was a system of infidels and hence, TTP will strive for imposing the Islamic Sharia through jihad and a day will come, when Muslims will rule the world. He added that the US and the government were conspiring to divide Muslims. (Baad-e-Shimal, Jang, Urdupoint, Roznama Duniya, Daily Dharti)
5. Taliban leader Mullah Wali Razi Ikhwand, who is staying in an Arab country, in a telephonic conversation with ‘Jang’, said that the Taliban could never forget Pakistan Army’s misbehaviour with Taliban. He said that including Musharraf, many top army officers and politicians were included in their black list, but the Taliban did not believe in the philosophy of revenge. He said that for establishing peace in Afghanistan, Taliban prefer consultations with Pakistan. (Jang)
6. Pakistan military officers have said that 127 extremists have been killed in an operation in Tirah valley in Khyber agency; this operations started after clashes between 3 banned groups – Lashkar-e-Islam, Ansarul Islam and Tehrik-e-Taliban. (Jang)
7.Chief of Pakistan Sunni Tehrik Mohammad Sarwat Ejaz Qadri has criticized that allowing members of banned outfits to participate in elections was a mockery of law. (Jang)
8.In view of threats from terrorist organizations and the bad law and order situation, the free movement of weapons has been banned at all airports including weapons in the hands of government security personnel. This report states that airports have been declared as ‘Weapon Free Zones’. (Jasarat, Roznama Duniya)
HUMAN RIGHTS
1.Kawish’s edit refers to the Human Rights Commission report which said that the abductions in Sindh now equalled those in Balochistan and comments that this report had raised concerns over attacks on religious minorities and the migration of people to cities; this is all a manifestation of government machinery. Edit says that the fact that the government is not concerned about all these human rights violations was in itself a huge matter of concern. Such incidents speak loudly of the absence of government writ. (Kawish Edit)
2. Awami Awaz’s editorial refers to the Human Rights Commission’s report and says that several candidates were being disqualified for no reason, leading to the people being unable to vote for their favourites. The people were also being denied an opportunity to make their candidates accountable. It talks of lack of government writ in Karachi and how life had become difficult in Karachi with everyday target killings and other terrorist attacks. The report has also referred to 72 bodies found from deserted places; edit refers to this and says that the people in Sindh seem to be in the mood for settling scores with their elected representatives. It seems that at several places, the atmosphere is still feudal. (Awami Awaz Edit)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1.President Zardari and caretaker PM Mir Hazar Khan Khoso consulted for extension of cabinet and in the upcoming 48 hours, 6 new ministers will be included in the cabinet. This report further informs that 2 ministers belong to Sindh, 3 from Punjab and 1 from NWFP. (Khabrain)
2.Talking to Majeed Nizami, the interim federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Arif Nizami said that the government had only one vision and that was to conduct free and fair elections. He added that there wasn’t any thought of postponing elections. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
3.A PML-Q delegation called upon Musharraf and delivered a message from Chaudhary Shujaat which was welcomed by Musharraf. This report states that both parties have confirmed this meeting. This report says that the date for meeting between Chaudhary Shujaat and Musharraf was not fixed. (Ummat, Urdupoint)
4.Musharraf said that a conspiracy was being hatched to keep him away from elections, but he was determined to play his part in solving problems faced by the nation. He said that a third political power was necessary at this juncture, because the present rulers had destroyed the economy. He said he will kick off his campaign from Sahiwal in South Punjab on April 16th. (Jinnah, Kawish)
5. Senior law expert PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan was successful till the time he listened to Ahsan’s advice but now, the CJP no longer listened to him. Ahsan said that the court can register a case against former President Musharraf and if the court could do so against former PMs Gilani and Ashraf, then why not against Musharraf. Ahsan said that even the caretaker government could register a case against Musharraf. (Jasarat, Kawish)
6. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman said that whichever party formed the government in Pakistan, the effort to initiate dialogues with Taliban will not be affected. He said that the military establishment will remain neutral during elections as it has realized that political powers have reservations against its role in elections. (Roznama Duniya)
7. In his column, Nazir Naji criticizes CJP saying that it appeared as if the CJP had taken election affairs in his hands, when in fact, the Election Commissioner should be in charge. Naji is critical of the questions asked by retuning officers to election candidates, which are either vulgar or nonsensical. (Roznama Duniya Edit)
8. PPP, MQM and ANP have adopted a policy to avoid political gatherings in view of the possibility of terrorist attacks. PPP leader and former federal Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal said TV that the atmosphere was not conducive for election campaigns but elections could not be postponed as the country could not bear any caretaker. (Ummat)
9. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has remained missing from PPP’s public gatherings due to Taliban’s threat. (Khabrain)
10. Law enforcement agencies have beefed up security of political leaders and VIPs including Haider Abbas Rizvi, Fasal Raza Abidi, and Commissioner of Karachi Hashim Raza Zaidi etc., after 4 terrorists – Saifur Rahman Shahzad, Mohammad Ali Hakim, Abdul Ghani Zubair and Zahid Gul – arrested by CID police, revealed during interrogation that they had planned to target these leaders. (Roznama Duniya)
11. Nawa-i-Waqt in an editorial says the only aim of the interim government should be to conduct free and fair elections and hence, it should avoid taking up other challenges like such huge changes in the bureaucracy. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
12.Pakistan Awami Tehrik has begun a movement to convince people not to vote. For this purpose they have formed committees. (Roznama Duniya)
13. In his column, Irfan Siddiqui writes that PPP has pinned its last hopes on Imran Khan as it believes that if Imran Khan’s vote bank increases, it will break PML-N’s vote bank. However, off late, Imran Khan seems to be losing popularity, and PTI leaders have been found contacting other parties. Siddiqui says this should be a matter of concern for PPP. (Jang)
ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. Heavy load-shedding of 10-20 hours per day has started across Pakistan and people have taken to streets to protest the failure of the administration to control the electricity crisis. (Daily Pak)
2. Anjuman Tajeran Rawalakot President Iftekhar Feroz warned of a shutter down strike in 10 districts if the electricity crisis continued. (Daily Dharti)
3. In his article, Idris talks about the caretaker government participating in appointing a federal representative in IRSA. Rajput recalls the decision taken by Musharraf in 2002 where it was said that the federal representative in IRSA will be from Sindh. He says that this decision also had legal sanctity. Rajput states that now it was for the caretaker government to make sure that the federal representative to IRSA is appointed from Sindh. He says that if Sindh had two representatives at IRSA, it didn’t amount to any injustice against any other province as Sindh has a lot of water-related problems. (Kawish)
4. Jang’s edit writes that terrorist attacks on power installations are said to be the cause of electricity crisis. In a week’s period, terrorists had attacked one grid station and 4 gas pipelines. Edit comments that the job of the caretaker government was not just to hold elections, it was also responsible for law and order in the country. (Jang Edit)
5..A private TV channel has claimed that the PPP government had stopped FIA from carrying out investigation against the role played by PM Gilani in the Hajj Corruption scandal. (Jasarat)
PUNJAB
1.Caretaker CM of Punjab Najam Sethi has urged the administration and police officials to perform their duties without any favour or pressure. He said that holding transparent peaceful and neutral elections was a national duty. He hoped that with several steps in the direction, clean and neutral elections will be completed peacefully. He also issued instructions that all authority to appoint and transfer rests with the Chief Secretary. (Jinnah)
2.IG Punjab has issued instructions to all DPOs that within 24 hours, all SHOs and clerical staff should be transferred. He has instructed to cancel leaves of police officials. IG Punjab Aftab Sultan said that 4 days before elections, all training centres in the province will be closed down and all trainees will be allotted to election duties. He also said that fool-proof security will be provided to political leadership, all leaders will address gatherings from bullet proof roasters and sufficient space will be maintained between stage and public. He also said that in polling stations, only police officials will keep arms, and no private security guards will be allowed to keep arms. (Jinnah)
SINDH
1.Now even Tehrik-e-Taliban have begun sending extortion demand notes to businessmen in Karachi. (Roznama Duniya)
2. Sind caretaker CM said peace was a must for smooth and peaceful elections and that he had given a ‘free hand’ to Chief Secretary, IG and DIG. He also said that no one would be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere in Karachi. (Kawish)
3. In a targeted operation, Rangers arrested 25 criminals from various areas in Karachi and seized a huge cache of weapons from them. The Police have arrested 61 criminals. Some of the accused belong to political parties. (Jang)
4. SSP-Tando Muhammad Khan informed ‘Jang’ that out of 242 polling stations for 1 national and 2 provincial assembly seats, 10 polling stations are very sensitive and 90 are sensitive. (Jang)
BALOCHISTAN
1. 10 constituencies in Balochistan have been termed as sensitive after the Balochistan Election Commission assessed the security concerns and threats. It was said that all election offices have been shifted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police building and the election material will be supplied with the help of helicopters; there would also be fool-proof safety for voters. It was said that the Army could also be called in to ensure safety during elections. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Jasarat, Urdupoint, Roznama Duniya)
2. Brahamdagh Bugti has said that he didn’t agree with Akhtar Mengal’s six points as he thought elections were no solution to Baloch problems. He claimed that the only solution to that was Balochistan’s freedom. He said let there be a referendum under the UN supervision in Balochistan. He also said no political party represented Balochistan and that the Baloch were being treated like slaves, they were being abducted and killed. He said they were not being allowed to take out rallies. He claimed that the atmosphere in Balochistan at present was not one for elections; rather, it was more like atmosphere of an Army operation. He alleged that the military operation still continued at Dera Bugti and that people were migrating from there. He said despite the fact that the Zardari government apologized to the Baloch, under his government, the maximum number of operations were launched in the province. Bugti charged that even the SC had not helped much as the killings had continued. (Awami Awaz)
3. Unidentified motorcyclist killed DSP Amir Mohammad and his security guard in firing in Quetta. The Baloch Liberation Army has accepted the responsibility. (Jang, Urdupoint, Roznama Duniya, Jinnah, Kawish)
4.Roznama Duniya editorial refers to BNP leader Akhtar Mengal’s warning in his talks to media that if situation in Balochistan did not improve, elections will become doubtful. Edit comments that it is encouraging to see Baloch leaders like Akhtar Mengal returning to Pakistan. However, if moderate nationalist leaders like Akhtar Mengal are disappointed, it will be very difficult to restore normalization in Balochistan. (Roznama Duniya Edit)
5. Militants tried to blow up the Tuftan Express, from Iran to Quetta, by depositing explosive material near tracks. However, the blast happened after the train passed that area. (Jang)
6. Editorials in Jasarat and Ummat refer to the public address of BNP leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal in which he announced taking part in elections. Mengal said that the rights of people could not be achieved through armed struggle and ideologies could not be changed through force of gun. Nationalist forces should utilize this opportunity and bend the establishment to stop tyrannical steps in Balochistan. JI Chief Sayyed Munawar Hassan welcomed the decision taken by Balochistan’s political parties to take part in the elections. Hassan said that such a situation should be avoided which will create suspicions about elections. Edit advises that all political forces should join hands towards the demands of Baloch people to end the anarchy. ‘Ummat’ Edit also says that disputes in Balochistan were between tribal heads and landlords. It says that the role of India and other anti-Pakistan elements cannot be ignored. Edit writes that all these factors increase deprivation of Baloch people and the Baloch youth was being misguided to revolt against Pakistan on these grounds; this has resulted in military operations in the past too. Edit stresses upon resolving the Baloch issue and warns that if Balochistan separates from Pakistan, it will get nothing but destruction. (Jasarat Edit, Ummat Edit)
POK/G-B NEWS
1.Diamir Jirga has agreed to handover 5 dozen notorious criminals to the police. It was said that after consulting with the Army and security officials, the Gilgit-Baltistan administration has handed over a list of wanted persons to the jirga. (Bang-e-Sahar)
2.Baad-e-Shimal edit says that the administration should ensure the safety of people everywhere and hence, necessary steps should be taken to avoid incidents of sudden fire like in Jutial. (Baad-e-Shimal)
3.Another edit Baad-e-Shimal says that though Gilgit-Baltistan was considered as a tax-free area, people have been paying taxes for the past 65years; the provincial government is not getting any return. Edit says that now the federal government has started levying taxes on NCP vehicles that belong to mostly poor transporters and hence, it was necessary that the government now make an agreement with the federal government in this regard. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
