2. A delegation of PPP (Nottingham) led by central leader Haji Nisar Ahmed met former PM of AJK Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhary and told him that party workers have reservations over giving the MFN status to India and on the treatment meted out to Lord Nazir; they demanded that government should change its attitude. (Ausaf, 14 December)

UNITED STATES/ AFGHANISTAN
1. Jinnah and Khabrain in their editorial comment on the 2-day conference of Pakistan’s envoys said the meeting was convened to review external polices and futuristic relationships with US, NATO and ISAF. Both dailies welcomed the intention of not compromising on national sovereignty. On the question of restoring NATO supply routes, the edits call for imposition of heavy taxes on the NATO supplies and said the supply routes should be restored under a new treaty alone that upholds Pakistan’s interest.  (Jinnah Edit, Khabrain Edit)

2. Daily Pak editorial on envoys meet says that Pakistan envoy in UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan remained absent for the meeting and his interview to the media was made out to be the reason for his absence. Edit states that his interview was given soon after the Abbotabad operation; the situation at that time was different.   Edit further warns that the foreign policy should be reviewed very carefully. (Daily Pak Edit)

3. Editorials in Intekhab, Jang, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit, and Ummat on envoys meet hailed the outcome of the meeting and asked the government to discontinue being USA’s frontline ally and stop supplies to NATO. Pakistan should try to improve relations with regional nations and ignore America’s empty warnings. (Intekhab Edit, Jang Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit, Ummat Edit)

4. Ibrat edit on envoys meet says it is time for Pakistan’s rulers to get rid of old policies and adopt progressive and enlightened policies, instead of being isolated from world. Edit states that the policies of the Zia era must be replaced at any cost. (Ibrat Edit)

DEFENCE
1.Nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadir Khan has appointed former MNA and Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Chaudhary Mohammad Khurshid Zaman as his chief organizer and spokesperson. (Baad-e-Shimal)

2. Hamid Mir writes that though the leadership was trying to break American shackles, remote control bomb blasts in Karachi hinted that the enemy was not sleeping. Mir held Gen. Ayub Khan, Gen. Yahya Khan, Gen. Zia and Gen. Musharraf responsible for today’s plight.  Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto made a mistake by not taking action on the Justice Hamoodur Rahman Commission’s report on failure of the Pakistan Army in Dhaka on 16thDecember 1971. Bhutto tried to protect the indicted generals by hiding the commission report but he was eventually ditched by the very same generals. Abbotabad operation on 2nd May 2011 was not difficult for the US as Musharraf had made Pakistan America’s colony. Mir ends stating that the current leadership should take a lesson from 16th December and if they did not put Musharraf on trial, they would end up like Zulfiqar Bhutto. (Jang)

3. Irfan Siddiqui writes that nobody knew what happened at Shamsi Air Base from 20th October 2001 to 11 December 2011. Thousands of Pakistanis were killed by American drones that flew out of Shamsi Air base and though Pakistan had regained its control, the lost lives could never be revived. This war on terror was never Pakistan’s and there were many questions that needed to be answered. (Jang)

4.Jasarat and Jinnah in their edits on Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement  on Benazir murder probe  say if  the minister has any knowledge about the killers it would be better to bring them to justice. It is important to expose the assassins publicly. (Jasarat Edit, Jinnah Edit)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Sabiha, a widow of a TTP terrorist, who was killed, said that the group was carrying out its activities in Karachi under the control of Ustadji alias Fateh, and Qari Munib from South Waziristan. She disclosed that along with Jundullah, TTP carried out terrorist attacks on the Ashura procession. Sabiha confessed that she planted bombs in Abdullah Shah Gazi Tomb in Clifton and Karachi University. (Ummat and Jang)

2.JuD chief Hafiz Saeed asked the government to take control of other bases with the US, and target US drones entering in Pakistan space.. He demanded that Pakistan government should abolish treaties with US, India and NATO which were against Pakistan and Islam. He said that trade with India would not be supported as India would get the opportunity to send Indian weapons to Afghanistan via Pakistan. (Khabrain)

3. JuD has started construction of houses for flood affected families in Golarchi.  1000 homes would be constructed in the first phase. (Ummat)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. President House’ kitchen is proposed to be renovated at an estimated cost of Rs.26 crores. (Ibrat)

2. JUI central leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman held Qadiyanis responsible for creating the Memo issue. (Jinnah)

3. Ausaf edit says former President Pervez Musharraf while burdening people of Pakistan with toll tax, GST and various other taxes, opened up Pakistan to NATO and America and their vehicles were a given free hand without customs, taxes or any duty. Now people want to know what else Musharraf had given to America and people are demanding that Musharraf should be arrested through Interpol and brought to justice. (Ausaf Edit, 14 December)

4. Noting that 9th and 10th December were observed as ‘Anti-Corruption Day’ and ‘Human Rights Day’ Navid writes that Pakistan has lost Rs. 12 trillion rupees due to corruption. He claims that Mujahideen have no share in corruption and criticized the authorities for creating an unnecessary storm against the Mujahideen. Navid writes that 8000 people took advantages of NRO but even in this list there was not a single jihadi, Maulvi or Taliban member and states that those who are corrupt criticized the Mujahideen which was a shameful thing. Navid writes that the role of NGOs was suspected in Pakistan as many of them spied for the West and India and NGOs were against the Islamic identity of Pakistan. (Al Qalam Weekly, 9-15 December)

5. Arif Bahar writes that Memogate was a very serious issue and it was like an invitation to foreign forces to get a hold of the affairs of Pakistan though SCBA Asma Jehangir and journalist Ayaz Ameer have rejected Memogate as a piece of paper which would have not much significance. (Jasarat)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. World Bank and the federal Ministry of Water and Electricity have created a joint study on post-flood rescue measures in Sindh. In a letter written by the federal ministry, all the four provincial governments, Gilgit-Baltistan and FATA have been asked measures being taken to minimize flood-related losses. The letter states that earlier two meetings were held in September (22) and October (5) and letters were sent to provinces on these two occasions but no reply had been received. The letter states that the World Bank had been insisting on this joint study so that provinces could be alerted on measures against floods. (Awami Awaz, 14 December)

2. Qurban Baloch reports that the Sindh government and IRSA have strongly rejected any plans to consider the Kalabagh Dam, as well as any plan to change the formula for water distribution amongst provinces and IRSA’s responsibilities. The objections were voiced at a meeting convened by the task force team of the Friends Of Pakistan group. Sindh Irrigation Department Secretary said since Sindh was pre-occupied with other tasks relating to rescue works for flood victims, the Sindh government could not submit its recommendations on water issues in the task force meeting in Islamabad on Monday; hence the task force team should talk to Sindh before finalizing matters on water issues. In view of these developments, the task force team is likely to meet in Karachi today. The Sindh Irrigation Department Secretary has said that Sindh would not change its stances. In reply to the task force’s questionnaire as to why the Kalabagh could not be revived, the secretary said that it was a controversial project. The Sindh Government is likely to submit its policy on Kalabagh in task force meeting to be held in Karachi tomorrow. Meanwhile, IRSA has also indicated that any plans to set up a new body on water issues would lead to more serious repercussions. (Kawish)

3. Awami Awaz editorial says Sindh would not allow the Kalabagh or any water distribution in violation of the water treaty amongst provinces. A meeting was being organised in Lahore on 14th December and that WAPDA and the federal Ministry for Water and Electricity were once again trying to make a case for the Kalabagh Dam.  Sindh would oppose any such move that aimed at taking water from the Indus against wishes of the people of Sindh. (Awami Awaz Edit, 14 December)

4. Nawa-i-Waqt editorial refers to the Finance Minister’s plan to bring 7.5 crore more people under the tax net. It argues that instead of bringing the common man under the tax net, landlords should be brought under the tax net. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)Nawa-i-Waqt editorial has called for early finalization of gas project agreement with Iran saying that the issue was kept pending under US pressure thus far. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

5. Daily Dharti editorial says government and bureaucracy should find a solution to the strike by sanitary department employees which has entered the fourth day  and is causing great inconvenience to the people. (Daily Dharti Edit)

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Three persons, including 2 from the Peace Committee and 1 security personnel, were killed in Bara during an exchange of fire with militants. One person from the Khasdar Force was kidnapped and another was killed. Due to the worsening law and order conditions, locals have started moving out to safer shelters. (Ibrat)

SINDH
1. Karachi city government was working against the Sindh CM’s orders for the demolition of several villages in Malir. (Ibrat)

2. Sindh Tarqui Pasand’s Qadir Magsi said that Zulfikarabad City project was an anti-Sindh venture and as such it would not be allowed to come up at any cost. He said that this project was aimed at displacing native people. (Awami Awaz, 14 December)

POK NEWS
1.JUI (F) chief and chairman of National Assembly’s Kashmir Committee Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that if the international community was serious about human rights, then it should stop human rights violation in J&K. And if India failed to heed the call, then its membership of the UN should be suspended. (Ausaf, 14 December)

2.JI chief AJK Abdul Rashid Turabi said leaders of ‘base camp’ should represent Kashmiris and ‘followers of Larkana’ should stand with the Mujahideen.  (Ausaf, 14 December)

3. JI – AJK chief Abdul Rashid Turabi said that one percent of the population including youth would be ideologically prepared to bring the necessary change to society. He added that the Islamic way of living was the only solution to problems. (Daily Dharti)

4.IRA Head Quarters has released Rs.14 crore for flood affected areas of AJK to pay the pending bills to the contractors to complete pending projects. (Baad-e-Shimal)

5.AJK Premier Chaudhary Abdul Majeed said that no one would remain homeless during the reign of the PPP government and the administration would construct homes under Benazir Housings Project in AJK. (Daily Dharti)

6.Employees of municipalities in AJK are on strike in protest against the shifting of their pensions to the AG’s office; they are also demanding health facilities. (Ausaf, 14 December)

G-B NEWS
1.Muhammad Zafar, senior provincial leader in Gilgit- Baltistan distributed relief goods to flood affected people in Ghanche district. He stated that the provincial government was contemplating distributing Rs. 1 lakh each of the flood affected. The distributed goods were financed by Saudi Arabia. (Ausaf, 14 December)

2.CM Gilgit Baltistan Mehdi Shah said that the government has decided to implement a transport policy under which government officials will not be get perks like official vehicles and drivers.  (Ausaf, 14 December)

3.Public protests continued for the fifth day against load shedding in Ishkoman. Protestors gave the right to negotiate with the government to their representative Nawaz Khan Naji. Another report states that the DC who is not a local person mishandled the situation. The DC and SP of Ghizer refused to listen to the protestors. (Baad-e-Shimal)

4.EDIT hails the agreement in a meeting between AJK PM and GB CM for sanctioning 10 additional seats for GB students in the AJK medical college and construction of Shontar road connecting AJK and GB. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)