2.Nawa-i-Waqt’s editorial has criticised Defence minister’s remarks that the US is not a threat (to Pakistan) and said: ‘ US is supporting India to weaken Pakistan’s defence and military capabilities, while  India terrorists are attacking Pakistan’s borders from Afghanistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

AFGHANISTAN
1. Nawa-i-Waqt editorial on Telegraph report that the US army would remain in Afghanistan until 2024 calls upon Pakistan and Iran to work together and foil the plan. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

INDIA
1. India has released more floodwater into the Sutlej leading to submergence of many villages; communication with these areas has been lost. (Daily Intekhab, Ummat)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Social worker and human rights activist Ansar Barni has decided to become the ‘Anna Hazare’ of Pakistan. He will launch his movement against corruption after Ramzan Eid. (Jasarat)

2. Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif has said a project that was to generate 400MW worth of electricity has been affected by the Federal government’s corruption; machinery worth crores of rupees is locked up in a Karachi custom warehouse. (Ausaf, 21 Aug.)

3. After deliberating for the past several days President Zardari has decided to make some large-scale administrative changes in Sindh; though officials have denied any such move, a formal announcement is expected on the proposed changes after the core committee meetings today. The first phase of these changes will be to shift the Sindh CM to the federal government and appointment of Khursheed Shah in his place.  Zardari has also decided to mete out harsh punishments to extortionists and make necessary amendments in anti-terror laws to achieve this; police and rangers will also be vested with additional powers to deal with the situation.  (Ibrat, 21 August)

4. The ANP Chief in Sindh, Shahi Syed, has said that the ANP has not been taken into confidence over any decisions when his attention was drawn to reports that a three member committee has been set up to improve the law and order situation in Karachi. Senior Under such circumstances senior ANP leadership thinks it is not possible to continue any longer as an alliance partner in Sindh, he said. (Ibrat, 21 Aug.)

5. PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif was expected to visit the flood-affected areas in Sindh but he has gone to Saudi Arabia where he will be spending Eid. Later he will fly to the UK. (Kawish, 21 Aug.)

6. Daily Dharti has editorially commented on the loss of original 1973 statute draft. The loss came to light when the National Assembly Speaker wanted to see it. Pakistan’s identity is riddled with many such incongruities. Some books deny that Alam Iqbal ever provided the idea to form Pakistan. Though Jinnah never really wanted to make Pakistan an Islamic state, just the opposite is claimed by school text books in Pakistan. It is essential bring forth the truth about Pakistan’s identity. (Daily Dharti Edit)  

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. JuD chief Hafiz Saeed rejected criticism that the JuD was a B-team of army and said it was just propaganda. In an interview to a private TV channel, Hafiz said that the JuD works in the field of relief and education. ‘We have 5 big hospitals, 119 dispensaries. Every month we treat 91612 patients. 16, 19,000 patients are given medicines every month’. (Urdupoint, Daily Pak, Jinnah, Daily Intekhab)

2. Dr Mehraj-ul-Hooda, the JI chief in Sindh said that Jihad is the only way for the success of Muslim Umma. He said that Jihad is as compulsory as the other duties in Islam. He stated that the month of Ramzan is the month of Jihad and cited the ‘Battle of Badr’ as an example in which the prophet had also taken part in jihad. (Jasarat)

3. Over 200 militants attacked the area of Chakra on Friday and held several thousand people hostage. Police in Zaman were supporting these militants while the welfare vehicles of political parties were seen providing them with weapons. The Aurat Foundation and Human rights groups have visited the area and are putting together a report on what had happened. (Ibrat, Awami Awaz)

4. Ausaf editorial has voiced concern over the suicide attack at the Jamia Mosque in KP in which more than 60 people died and more than 130 were injured. It said ‘no Muslim can be behind such an incident in the month of Ramadan; there must be some anti-Islam powers behind the blast’. (Ausaf Edit, 21 Aug.)

KARACHI SITUATION
1. Former President Pervez Musharraf said that the government has failed to establish peace in Karachi and army should be deployed to regain peace. (Jasarat)

2. JI Secretary Liyaqat Baloch opines that calling in the army into Karachi will epitomize the defeat of democratic forces. He wants that the government should stop supporting law-breakers. (Jasarat)

3. JI Chief Munawar Hasan said that if the Karachi police did its job without any bias then there would be no target killings in Karachi. He alleged that brigands who were once in jail have joined the Sindh police. (Awami Awaz)

4. Ulema Peace Council has demanded that the army be brought into Karachi to control the situation.  Addressing a news conference, the Council leaders said everyone should realise the gravity of the situation in Karachi. (Awami Awaz, Jasarat)

5. 35 Sindhi and Baloch families have fled to safe shelters to escape from the violence in Sindh. These families had given shelter to people migrating from India at the time of partition. Sadly, now they had to leave their homes because of the atrocities committed by the migrants they once welcomed into their quarters. (Ibrat)

6. MQM and Gang war terrorists are planning to launch large attacks in Balochi residential colonies in Karachi and they have established centres in various pockets to start target killings once they receive orders from the London leadership. (Ummat)

7. Jasarat has opposed army deployment in Karachi. Though many voices are being heard in favour of handing over Karachi to the army, the presence of the army in Karachi will only exacerbate the situation instead of heralding peace. (Jasarat Edit)

8. Several angry editorials on Karachi violence have appeared demanding the sacking of the Sindh government. ‘All those appointed in the police due to political pressure should be removed and a new administration should be put in place to bring the situation under control with the help of Army, if required’. (Editorials in Daily Intekhab, Ummat and Jang)

9. Jang columnist Hamid Mir writes: Summoning the Army for duty in Karachi will not be in the national interests. The government should be given one month time to address the issues. On their part, the Police and Rangers should have a free hand to work without any political pressure.  Political leaders should stop protecting gangsters and target killers. Then there is no reason why the situation in Karachi cannot be controlled. (Jang)

10. Daily Pak has carried a scathing editorial on Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statements that the police are forced to release target killers under pressure from above. It said: Malik should have shown the guts to name these people but he has not as he is more worried about keeping his job more than anything else. (Daily Pak Edit)

BALOCHISTAN
1. Several areas in Balochistan observed general strike to protest against the government failure to trace the missing persons in the province. (Kawish, 21 Aug.)

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Six persons were killed in sectarian riots in Wadi Tehran. The victims belong to Lashkar-Islam the Taliban. (Jinnah)

PUNJAB
1.Federal Information Minister Firdaus Awan accused the Punjab administration of blocking the development of the Sialkot Girl’s College for which the centre had allotted land and provided adequate funds. (Khabrain)

2. An extremist group named Dadullah has planned to assassinate Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif when he visits Ramzan Bazar during Namaz-e-Eid.  (Jinnah, Ummat)

SINDH
1. Government schools in Karachi may be handed over to the private sector as government is unable to pay teachers’ salaries. (Jasarat)

2. Awami Awaz has editorially criticised that the national media treats Sindhis as a second class citizens. (Awami Awaz Edit)

ECONOMY
1. Trade has been badly affected in Karachi due unabated violence and bloodshed; the city is losing around Rs.1.5 billion, according to the Chairman of the Traders Action Committee, Sadiq Memon. He said 70% of the business establishments in the city are hit. (Ausaf, 21 August)

2. Pakistan is considering raising another $5-7 billion as loans from the IMF. This loan will translate into a rise in power tariffs and a further cut in subsidies as the IMF conditions for the loans are likely to be harsher than last time. (Ibrat, 21 Aug.)

KASHMIR NEWS
1.The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair writes in his memoirs: during his meeting with President Musharraf , he was surprised to learn that Musharraf was not interested in resolving Kashmir issue with India but was in fact interested in resolving the Palestinian issue with Israel. Musharraf requested my help to resolve the Palestinian issue saying that this in turn would help resolve the Kashmir issue. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Khabrain)

2. JKLF (Lotan, UK) has fully supported the process of reunification of the JKLF that was initiated by Amanullah Khan and Yasin Malik saying that the unification would give a boost to the liberation movement. (Ausaf, 21 Aug.)