2. Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif in his meeting with Iran’s Counsel General Mohammad Hussain Bani Asadi said that Pakistan and Iran have close relations and that this should turn into trade and economic relations. He said that Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and UAE should work together for the promotion and development of various sectors. He said that Iran imports meat from other countries, when Punjab is capable of exporting meat to Iran on a daily basis by special chartered planes. He said that Iran and Pakistan should agree towards trade of meat worth USD 150 million. He added that along with livestock, Punjab, Iran and China could begin a metro project as well. (Daily Pak)

AFGHANISTAN
1. BBC report claims that an Afghan Army commander had planned the Mohmand Agency attack on November 26th with the help of Afghan and Indian intelligence agencies  but ISPR has rubbished the report.  (Daily Intekhab and Jang)

INDIA
1. A 46-member delegation of India’s Internal and External Defence departments has reached Washington on an invitation from Pentagon, highly placed sources told Jang. India’s Deputy High Commissioner in Afghanistan has also been invited to attend this meeting. According to sources, the US would discuss its strategic agreements with India regarding its role in Afghanistan. The American President had planned to provide India with heavy artillery to support India’s big and important role in Afghanistan and the US had decided to supply the latest weaponry to the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, along with big agreements between Indian and American submarines. US was planning big action against Pakistan and it could be different from Iraq or Afghanistan and Mohmand Agency attack was part of this conspiracy, the sources said. (Jang)

2. JI-AJK Chief Abdul Rashid Turabi alleged that after Musharraf’s U-turn on Kashmir, fake talks were going on with India for the past 8 years and bus and truck services were also functioning but India has neither reduced its aggressive attitude nor is ready for serious talks on the Kashmir issue. (Daily Dharti)

3. Ummat editorially hailed Indian government’s move to provide wheat and rice to 63% of its poor population in rural areas. It noted that the Indian government also gives 35 kg wheat and rice, free of cost, to more than 6.5 crore families living below the poverty line. This should be enough to open the eyes of our own government in Pakistan but unfortunately, the rich in this country import water from abroad and go to foreign hospitals for treating cough and cold, and the poor are left to die helplessly. (Ummat Edit)

4. Jamiat-e-Ahle-Hadis (JeH) has alleged that the government of India and its officials were creating hurdles in the establishment of the Trans World Muslim University in Kashmir though it had allowed the setting up of the Vaishno Devi University. Addressing a press conference at the organization’s headquarters, President JeH, Ghulam Rasool Malik said the Indian government was adopting double standards in allotting educational institutions to different regions of Kashmir. (Hizb Media, 19 December)
   
UNITED STATES
1. Nawa-i-Waqt editorial on the Dafa-e-Pakistan conference says that political and religious parties had organized public rallies in Rawalpindi and Peshawar on the same day. US tried its best but could not fulfil its anti-Islamic agenda. So it has quit Iraq; it will soon quit Afghanistan as well. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

DEFENCE
1. COAS General Kayani has cancelled the Corps Commanders’ meeting and invited all military chiefs and the DG ISI to his residence for dinner. Sources said that the invited people were told to not follow protocol and to come in their own vehicles without any drivers. According to sources, Kayani wanted to discuss the Memogate issue with them and wanted to take them into confidence.
Kayani also shared his earlier discussions with President Zardari and PM Gilani with his guests. New dates for Corps Commanders meet will be announced soon. (Urdupoint, Kawish)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Nawa-i-Waqt editorial says the Istehkam-e-Pakistan (stability of Pakistan) conference must have upset USA, NATO countries and India. These conferences send out a message to negligent political leaders to actively take measure to protect national borders or else they will be packed off. The anti-Islamic powers should know that none of their conspiracies against unity of Islam will succeed. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Political analysts have indicated President Zardari’s return to Pakistan is the ‘final scene’ of the ongoing political show; they have also said that President Zardari would go to London after his speech on Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary on 27th December. Zardari would send in his resignation from London and that PM Gilani would write a letter to the Swiss government. It says that President Zardari could get another heart attack and hence, he had no option but to quit politics and stay on in London to avoid impeachment. The New York Times had reported a similar story. (Daily Dharti, Ummat)

2. In his column, Hamid Mir writes that there was definitely an understanding between Nawaz Sharif and the Army due to which they were standing together on the Memogate issue. He said none of the leaders favoured martial law, and without martial law, President Zardari could not be removed as PM Gilani, MQM, JUI-F, ANP and PML-F were all supporting him. He says that even if Zardari was proved to be mentally unfit, he could not be removed until martial law was imposed. He recounts that on December 16th, he had attended the NA, where opposition leader Chaudhary Nissar told him that PML-N did not want to remove Zardari from Presidency forcibly as this would make him a ‘political martyr’. Mir writes that a powerful group in PPP was of opinion that Nawaz Sharif wanted to counter Imran Khan’s popularity and hence, with some Army generals, Nawaz Sharif was playing a new game in order to get the judiciary to decide against President Zardari, in order to improve his goodwill with the people. Mir claims this PPP group also wanted the party leadership to accept their mistake of extending the terms of COAS Ashfaq Kayani and ISI Chief Shujaa Pasha. It seemed Bilawal was more inclined towards this group. (Jang)

3. In his column, Irfan Siddiqui writes that if President Zardari thinks he is in trouble, he has to blame himself. Instead of implementing the ‘Charter of Democracy’ prepared with much sincerity by former Premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to end the culture of dictatorship in Pakistan, President Zardari worked out his own moves and is now on the verge of losing his game. He states that if the Army or the ISI want an investigation in the Memogate scandal, it will not be ignored as a failed conspiracy. Siddiqui ends by saying that the main conspiracy was that PPP’s fifth government handed over its will to the NRO creators and failed to strike out the culture started by Gen. Ayub Khan. (Jang)

4. Arshad Laghari says that Zardari’s return to Pakistan is only a beginning of the real political games. He says that the federal government has made it clear that there is no need for a separate reply to the SC from the President. Laghari wonders as to what will happen if the SC insists on a separate reply. He says that this could be the turning point. (Ibrat)

5. Jasarat editorial on the return of President Zardari says rumours about and on his return have not died down. President should address Pakistan on TV so that the people will be relieved about his health. Referring to the telephone call between Zardari and COAS Kayani, the daily notes that since the ‘call’ became a topic of animated conversations, the ISI had to give a clarification  and state that the conversation lasted only for a minute. (Jasarat Edit)

6. Daily Intekhab’s editorial says the return of President Zardari to Pakistan has foiled all conspiracies and theories of political chaos. It says that Pakistan’s rigid stand recently has created problems for the west and hence, the US was trying to create a rift between Pakistan’s institutions. Edit advises Pakistan’s political and military leadership to show maturity. (Daily Intekhab Edit)

7. 2 MNAs, 1 Senator, and 28 other prominent personalities have joined PTI. 4 senior vice presidents of PML-Q resigned from their party to join Imran Khan’s PTI. Even PML-N has opened its doors and that the situation would get clear by next week. (Urdupoint, Ibrat, Ummat)

8. Pir Pagaro, chief of Muslim League (Functional) has agreed to meet PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif after 12 years. This development is being seen as a step towards the re-union of PML-N factions. (Urdupoint)

9. JI’s Secretary General Liyaqat Baloch said that 25th December’s agitation in Lahore would be a referendum against the government. Baloch urged the people to participate in large numbers. (Jasarat)

10. Former NA and provincial assembly members belonging to JI have claimed that the police and agencies were abducting activists of JI and Jamiat-e-Tulba. JI has threatened to  launch an agitation against abduction of its activists. (Jasarat)

11. Addressing a seminar on the ‘Fall of Dhaka’ organised by the Jamiat-ul-Falah, JI Sindh chief Asadullah Bhutto said that democracy was never allowed to flourish in Pakistan; conspiracies to split Pakistan began with the creation of the nation. He said that a particular class spread disrespect to the Bengali community and their right to govern was rejected, which led to separatist movement. (Jasarat)

12. PML-N has threatened to block streets as a protest against load-shedding of domestic gas supply in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. (Jasarat)

13. Speaking in the Sindh Assembly PML-Functional’s Nusrat Sahar Abbasi said 577 women have been killed in the name of honour this year. (Jasarat)

14. Ausaf’s editorial says NAB has become active since Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bukhari’s appointment as its chairman. Bukhari has set up special committees to investigate corruption and scandals including Steel Mills, Railways, and NICL and 13 other institutions. It terms the move as a good one. (Ausaf Edit, 19 December)

15. Jasarat editorial says: on Sunday, there were 6 big rallies in the country. Some of these rallies drew large crowds. This is a good sign for democracy. These rallies also indicate that religious and political parties are preparing for the next general elections and that they all agreed on one issue – martial law will not be allowed anymore. (Jasarat Edit)

16. Khabrain’s editorial is on the five big conferences held or to be held by different parties like the Dafa-i-Pakistan council, PPP leaders gathering for Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary, PTI conference in Rawalpindi, JI conference and APML chief Musharraf’s address in Lahore. In the fast changing political scenario, it will be very difficult for the current government to stay in power. (Khabrain Edit)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. Kawish editorial says Punjab has not given up stealing Sindh water. Punjab has failed on the Kalabagh front but keeps stealing Sindh’s water; recently Punjab has withdrawn 10000-15000 cusecs of water daily from the Tarbela to the Chashma. Federal government should take a note of this theft as it cannot be ignored anymore. (Kawish)

2. Ausaf editorial is on the continuing Sui gas crisis in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and areas adjacent to Islamabad. The government steps so far have failed to address the crisis and the people are in an agitational mood. (Ausaf Edit, 19 December)

SINDH
1. A joint report, prepared by the Karachi police, Rangers and other agencies, and submitted to the provincial Interior Ministry, claimed that 332 people were involved in dealing with illegal weapons in Karachi. Maximum sale and movement of these weapons is being done by MQM, followed by ANP, People’s Aman Committee and Sunni Tehrik. The report also lists names of all these weapons. No area of Karachi is free of these weapons that were being smuggled into city from tribal areas, KP, Balochistan, Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. Majority of these weapons were brought into Karachi during Musharraf’s regime in containers from foreign countries, the report adds. (Awami Awaz)

2. ‘Karachi City Alliance’ would be formed to challenge MQM in Karachi. Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, Shahi Syed, Amir Bhambroo, Zafar Jhandir, Habib Jan, and Malik Ayub have agreed to come together against MQM. Afaq Ahmad and Habib Jan have decided to take up the issue of MQM’s aggression with International Human Rights bodies. (Ummat)

BALOCHISTAN
1. After meeting with Baloch leader Ataullah Mengal, Nawaz Sharif agreed with Mengal and said that it was time the government compensated Balochs for the injustice meted out to them. He said that Mengal believed that Balochistan had already been brought to a point of no return, and hence, if no restraint was exercised, Balochistan would not like to remain a part of Pakistan. (Kawish)

2. Senior leader of National Party, Mir Hasil Bizenjo said that provincial ministers of Balochistan were behind the kidnappings for huge ransoms. Addressing a party meeting in Quetta he said that not a single provincial minister in Balochistan is without his own gang. (Kawish)

3. Lashari-Kalhora tribal clashes have become more violent with 1 child killed in the latest clashes at Randhan near Larkana. The dispute, which started over a piece of land, has put resulted in 13 causalities so far. (Kawish)

POK/G-B NEWS
1. Speaking in Kathmandu, G-B CM invited foreigners to invest in G-B as opportunities exited in precious stones, minerals and rare herbs. He requested the Nepal government to start direct flights from Kathmandu to Skardu and Gilgit. (Baad-e-Shimal)

2. 65 people, agitating against load-shedding, have courted arrests in groups. (Baad-e-Shimal)

3. An all parties’ conference held in Gilgit voiced grave concern over growing unemployment and corruption in G-B. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Peoples Graduate Forum, the Balawaristan National Students Organization, the Karakoram Students Organization, the Gilgit-Baltistan Graduation Forum and other nationalist, political and social personalities. (Ausaf 19 Dec)

4. Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly has passed a resolution in favour of the Pakistan Army and vowed to stand along the Army in all difficult times. (Daily Dharti)

5. Ms. Tahera has been appointed as the DSP in Gilgit. She is the first woman DSP in G-B. (Baad-e-Shimal)

6. G-B Minister for Water and Electricity Shakeel Ahmed said that the provincial set-up in Gilgit-Baltistan was a step towards G-B becoming a complete province. (Ausaf, 19 December)