BANGALDESH
1.Hafiz Muhammad Idris (Director of JI’s Institution Maarif-e-Islami Mansora, Lahore) says that at the behest of India, Awami League has recently started sedition charges against JI in Bangladesh. He maintains that the claim made by Awami League that 30 lakh people were killed at the time of creation of Bangladesh was false as there was no evidence to support it. Idris writes that there was a possibility of an Islamic revolution in Bangladesh which cannot be stopped by India and its crony, Awami League. (Jasarat)
INDIA
2. In an interview, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said that India should not delay talks on Kashmir, as delay will be dangerous for peace in the region. She added that Pakistan was keeping a keen watch on the situation in J&K after Afzal Guru’s hanging. She said that it was time Kashmiris get their rights. (Jang, Urdupoint)
3. JI (AJK) Chief Abdur Rashid Turabi said that if India did not change its adamant attitude of calling Kashmir its integral part then it will meet the same fate like former Soviet Union; it will disintegrate. He asked international institutions to take notice of 8 lakh strong Indian Army violating human rights in J&K. (Daily Dharti)
4. Ummat says India demanded that Pakistan seek its permission for construction of hydropower projects in GB and AJK and asked for details about dams being constructed with the help of international monetary institutions. Concern for Pakistan was the fact that the World Bank has refused to provide funds for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam unless it gets a NOC from India. (Ummat Edit)
5. Baad-e-Shimal in its editorial comment say construction of dams is essential for Pakistan and the leadership and concerned authorities should take up work on dams like Diamer Dam immediately. (Baad-e-Shimal)
UNITED STATES
1. Talking to Nawa-i-Waqt, former Chief of ISI Gen. (R) Hamid Gul said that India and America were involved in terrorism inside Pakistan. He added that anti-Pakistan forces were gathering under the leadership of the US and India and were conspiring to break Pakistan for which the entire community should come under one flag. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
DEFENCE
1. Pakistan Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hasham bin Siddiq said that a 4-day multinational exercise ‘Aman- 13’ will be conducted from March 4th to 8th, in which the naval forces of 34 countries will participate. (Jang)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1.Investigation agencies have claimed that 5 groups of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were active in Karachi which are controlled from South Waziristan and stated that Osman Kurd who belongs to Quetta LeJ was also in contact with of some groups of LeJ in Karachi. The strongest group is of Ata-Ur- Rahman urf Naim Bukhari and he had met important people of LeJ in Nazimabad, Orangi Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Mahmoodabad and Surjani Town. Qari Zafar urf Abu Tayafa’s group was active in Model Colony and Millat Colony. Amanullah urf Mufti Iliyas group was active and Qari Rizwan also operates a group. The group of Qari Abdi is gaining strength and its active members were experts in carrying out blasts. (Ummat)
2. In a nationwide programs organized by Al Rahmat Trust, the Ulema said that jihad was the root of Islam and without it, Islam cannot be complete. They stated that it was the responsibility of every Muslim to take part in movements run for the revival of jihad. Martyrdom was a high reward and only the lucky obtain it. They claimed that Afzal Guru was one of the luckiest. Ulema said that the martyrdom of Guru has given new spirit to the movement. These sessions were held at Bahawalpur, Multan, Wahdi, Patuki, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar in which ulema like Maulana Qari Muhammad Sadiq, Maulana Attaullah Sakharvi, Maulana Abdur Rashid, Maulana Muhammad Iliyas Qasimi, Maulana Abdul Aziz, Maulana Abu Jindal Shafeeq, Maulana Abdur Rahman Shah and others participated. (Al Qalam Weekly, 1-7 March)
3. Maulana Khadim Qasimi said that the objectives of Al Murabitun were to ignite spirit of jihad among the students and to create strong capabilities in them to counter the challenges faced by the Muslim umma. (Al Qalam Weekly, 1-7 March)
4. President Zardari has stayed the execution of 78 prisoners. There are 7,046 prisoners in the death cell as their appeals against capital punishment are under scrutiny; Punjab has the highest with 4981 cases. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Nawabzadah Talal Akbar Bugti said while speaking with Ummat that Musharraf was not only a criminal to the Baloch people, but was a criminal to the 18 crore people of Pakistan, the Pakistan Army and judiciary. He said that Musharraf will not get a chance to contest the election as his death was waiting for him in Pakistan. He said that whoever kills Musharraf will be rewarded I billion rupees and 100 acres land in Sanghar. (Ummat)
2. Musharraf’s legal team has decided to apply for bail before Musharraf’s arrest, even before he returned to Pakistan. (Daily Dharti)
3. Tehrik Hazara chairman Sardar Mohammad Yusuf has announced joining PML-N. (Jang)
4. Jang says people have great expectations from the Election Commission. In an edit the daily writes that people have expressed complete confidence on the EC chief but now there are some doubts – one is on the issue of fake degrees and the other is on the formation of new constituencies in Karachi as per SC orders. (Jang Edit)
ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. Khabrain editorial on the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project, commended President Zardari for his courageous effort to meet the country’s energy requirements. Edit writes that though this decision was taken at the end of the present government’s tenure, it may bolster Pakistan’s stability.
2. Ausaf also terms the go ahead with Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project as a courageous decision. Edit praises Zardari. (Ausaf Edit)
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Governor of KP Engineer Shaukatullah will take army and sensitive agencies into confidence on the issue of peace process with TTP in view of the suggestion of national leadership and the tribal peace jirga for reconciliation with the Taliban in tribal areas. (Daily Intekhab, 3 March)
SINDH
1. An emergency meeting of the Shia Ulema Council and managers of various dargahs in Kherpur was held. At this meeting, it was decided that they will participate in elections from the platform of Islami Tehrik-e-Pakistan. (Jang)
2. On a complaint filed by a member of minority community – Krishen – Halri Shah Police raided the private jail of landlord Ibrahim Katyar and released 19 members of the minority community. (Jang)
3. IG Sindh police Fiyaz Ahmad Leghari accused the Haqqani Network for the Karachi attack. He said that this was a conspiracy to trigger sectarian conflict. (Khabrain, Ausaf)
4. An investigation agency reportedly arrested a Tajik national from the Abbas Town blast site who was also injured. The agency shifted him to an unknown location where further investigation was continued. On the other hand investigation agencies have arrested 8 suspects and they too have been shifted to an unknown location for investigation. (Ummat)
5. Shia Ulema Council (Punjab) President Maulana Mazhar Abbas Alvi and Syed Asif Ali Zaidi strongly protested against the Karachi attack and warned that until action was taken against terrorists in Punjab, they will boycott PML-N in the general election. (Khabrain)
6. Sunni Action Committee held a sit-in at Sukkur City bypass to protest against the arrest of Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat workers. (Jang)
7. Prime Minister was angry with the Sindh police chief for the delay in reaching the blast site in Abbas Town. (Kawish)
8. GN Mughal commenting on the alliance of 22 parties in Sindh politics says it is time PPP and MQM started introspecting on why they are being isolated across the nation and especially in Sindh. (Awami Awaz, 1 March)
BALOCHISTAN
1. In his column, Hamid Mir writes that the situation was so bad that he could not spend more than a day in Khuzdar in Balochistan. Everyone he met in Khuzdar was surprised at how he managed to reach when people were actually leaving Khuzdar. Mir says that the government claims no military operation was going on in Balochistan; but he found military secret service agents openly engaged in operation using FC or private force. Mir says he wanted to meet local politicians from JUI, BNP, National Party, JI and Bar Association groups but on the way; he was stopped by FC personnel. Mir writes that after his guide, who is an MNA, showed his Islamabad Club card, they were allowed to proceed. Once he reached the circuit house, he was informed that youth had blocked his road as he was going to meet BLA members. Even after his assurances to the contrary, the youth continued to chant anti-BLA slogans. He writes that even though the FC HQ was just across the road, FC personnel did not take any action against them. Mir was informed that the group belonged to a banned group controlled by the ISI. Mir asked the DIG to ask the group to move away, but the group refused to obey DIG’s orders. Mir then decided to get away from there and went to a dargah but armed groups continued to follow him. Mir says he realized that if the armed group attacked him, they will get away scot-free and BLA will be blamed for the attack. (Jang)
2. JUI (Dalbandin-Balochistan) Deputy General Secretary Haji Abdul Latif said that the JUI can have alliance with PML-N or BNP Awami and stated that JUI will continue the struggle for establishing an Islamic system. (Daily Intekhab)
3. The spokesperson of BNM stated that atrocities against the Baloch people by the ‘state’ was increasing day by day and claimed that thousands of Balochs have been martyred and disappeared since control of Balochistan was taken by force. He said that the state was utilizing its might and has continued the genocide of the Baloch people to strengthen its control on Baloch land and claimed that people from Kohlu, Dera Bugti till Makran were facing barbarism. He claimed that many youths, BNM workers and other people have been abducted and women and children tortured in on-going operation in Panchgur and adjacent areas. (Daily Intekhab)
POK/G-B NEWS
1. Canada-based Kashmiri leaders have set up a new organization called ‘United Kashmir Canada Association’. This report says that this is a non-political organization which will work for a social purpose. (Daily Dharti)
2. Gilgit-Baltistan Council will have its meeting today under the leadership of CM Mehdi Shah. It will take important decisions particularly on the economic crisis. Advisor to the CM, Ataullah Shahab said compensation given to the Diamer dam affected families was a clear proof that GB Government was sincere to build the dam. (Baad-e-Shimal)
3. Due to shortage of funds the formation of a seven-member Ulema Board for maintaining inter-faith harmony in Gilgit-Baltistan could not be initialized. (Baad-e-Shimal)
4. Baad-e-Shimal welcomes efforts for ending communal disharmony in Gilgit-Baltistan and says that formation of the seven-member ulema board should be expedited. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
