AFGHANISTAN

Former ISI Chief, Gen. (R) Hamid Gul said that Taliban would never agree to talks with America and it would be big mistake on the part of Pakistan if it pressurizes them for talks. He added that you cannot talk with a running aggressive force. He also said that NATO should go back unconditionally from Afghanistan as the Istanbul Conference would bear no results. (Ummat)

INDIA

 At the Jang Economic Session, experts said that Pakistan should not draw electricity from India as it could capture the country’s power sectors. Suhail Larashi, Chairman PAYAF, said that decision to buy Indian electricity would be political and under American pressure which could be a conspiracy against Pakistan. (Jang)

UNITED STATES

1. A Pentagon report has cleared Pakistani forces of being involved in the death of Major Laheri Bogas in 2007. (Jinnah)

2. Ummat states that America is trying to hit many targets with one arrow. America blamed Pakistan for supporting the Haqqani Network but it was clear that they were working under Mullah Omar and if America wanted any dialogue it should talk with Mullah Omar first. Now America wanted ISI’s help in talking with the Haqqani Network and through this America would get a chance to show the world that ISI is a secret agency working for the Pakistani Army and the Haqqani Network was a trained group of ISI that is involved in conspiracies against other nations. Edit writes that giving Pakistan an important role in Afghan peace process is another trick by America since in case of failure it would put all blame on Pakistan.  (Ummat)

3. Nawa-i-Waqt editorial comment is on American claim that the COAS Gen Kayani and President Zardari had promised to ensure action against the Haqqani Network. American media was propagating the message that during former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s tour to Pakistan, Kayani and Zardari had assured her of limiting the scope of the Haqqani Network and Hillary Clinton had said that America wanted to see real changes in reference to the Haqqani Network. Edit writes that this development indicated that Pakistan had agreed to play a role as per American wishes in the war which was for American interests in Afghanistan. Edit says PM Gilani while in Australia to attend CHOGM, also indicated that Pakistan was ready to take all steps to facilitate American efforts of reconciliation in Afghanistan. It advises America that it should have a dialogue with the Haqqani Network to establish peace in Afghanistan and should not pressurize Pakistan for any operation which it cannot bear. Edit writes that even the Pakistani army will not agree for any such operation which would jeopardize its own security. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

DEFENCE

1. JI chief Syed Munawar Hasan strongly reacted to President Zardari’s statement on Osama Bin Laden. He claimed that the source of evil was America and its allies who have enforced wars on Muslims to control their resources. Hasan said that Osama Bin Laden was the hero of Muslim Umma who offered his blood against tyranny. (Jasarat, Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. Baad-e-Shimal compliments PM Gilani for taking a clear stand on America, Afghanistan and joint strategy for peace in the region while talking to SBS TV. The edit says PM Gilani voiced a good strategy for countering terrorism and restoring peace and harmony in the region. Pakistan has made all sorts of sacrifices for the war on terror and the stand taken by PM Gilani would definitely strengthen Pakistan’s case at the international level. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

3. Jang talks about PM Gilani’s interview with foreign channels on the sideline of the Commonwealth Conference in Australia. EDIT says that things are not so easy and PM Gilani should first discuss any new strategy regarding countering extremism with people in Pakistan instead of talking with outsiders. (Jang Edit)   

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM

1. Lahore High Court has delivered its verdict on Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi’s petition that the federal government was influencing the Rawalpindi’s anti-terrorism special court, which is trying his case. He claimed that there was threat to his life and hence his case be shifted to Lahore. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

1. Irfan Siddiqui writes that though PTI Chief Imran Khan was able to conduct a successful rally in Lahore, unintentionally and involuntarily he was paving the way for President Zardari and his government’s next term.   He says PPP has never got more than fifty percent of the vote in any election but the division of votes among different parties has been the key factor for PPP’s success. Irfan says that it would have been some good news for the people of Pakistan if PML-N, PTI, JI and other small parties could have united on one platform to defeat the current corrupt regime but some cunning people have cleverly pitched Imran Khan against PML-N and hence every vote which goes in boxes other than that of PML-N would be actually for the success of PPP. This is the main point President Zardari’s intelligent politics and hence leaders like Dr. Babar Aiwan, Firdous Aashiq Aiwan and Altaf Hussein have kept quite after Imran Khan’s great rally. (Jang)

2. Nazir Naji states that there is no opposition party in Pakistan but people do not understand such technicalities and they want some alternate political force to take charge of the country by pulling down the government in power. Naji writes that all parties have only weakened democracy and conditions today are such that even if the current government completes its term, players interested in political instability would come to power in the next election. (Jang)

3. Abdul Wahab Munshi writes that Imran Khan will have to overcome significant challenges to rise in Pakistani politics. (Awami Awaz)

4. Jasarat edit notes reports that Pakistani politicians have wealth in foreign countries and says accounts and writes even claims that the anti-corruption department is also corrupt. (Jasarat Edit)

5. Ausaf edit on Imran Khan’s rally at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, says analysts were of the view that Imran Khan had achieved what he had been struggling to do for the past 15 years. Edit writes that people suffering from inflation, load shedding and unemployment were seeking a platform and they have turn to Imran Khan with hope. (Ausaf Edit, 1 November)

6. Daily Intekhab states that the present situation in Pakistan was same as it was in August 1958, June 1977, or September 1999. Politicians haven’t learnt any lesson from the past and continue to blame each other. Though it is true that the PPP Government has completely failed, it did not mean it should be over thrown in an undemocratic way. Edit states that there were many constitutional ways by which the President, the Prime Minister and the government could be made accountable for their wrongs. Politicians like Nawaz Sharif, Altaf Hussein and Imran Khan should stop playing cheap politics and adopt legal ways to counter each other, or else they would also not be benefited from the blame game. Edit ends advising the PPP Government to correct its wrong policies and prove their vision of good governance. (Daily Intekhab Edit)

7. Sheikh Tahir Rashid, former member of the National Assembly and Vice President of PML-Q has declared that he and thousands of his associates are joining PTI. (Khabrain)

8. PTI Chief Imran Khan will tour Japan in December. Khan is currently visiting China to meet Communist leaders. (Jang)

9. Gas connection to the factory of Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly , Raja Riyaz Ahmad, was disconnected due to non-payment of bills worth Rs. 1.40 crore (Khabrain, Daily Pak)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY

1. Former Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan’s tax system was lopsided. He said out of 18 crores of population, only 18 lakh pay taxes directly and others bear the burden of indirect taxes. (Awami Awaz)

2. Khabrain editorial is on the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project; it draws the attention of the government towards delays in the project that had to be completed by 2016. Edit states that because of the uncertain situation in Afghanistan, these projects had been deferred and the cost of construction was increasing. (Khabrain Edit)

3. Editorials have demanded effective legislative action to wipe out corruption in Pakistan. (Awami Awaz Edit, Jinnah Edit, Daily Pak Edit)

4. Jinnah and Khabrain are happy at the cut in petrol prices but ask the government why the benefits of reduction in petroleum prices are not reaching the common man. (Jinnah Edit, Khabrain Edit)

5.  Ausaf commenting on former Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani knocking at the Supreme Court’s court door in the black money case says a commission should unravel accounts of politicians, bureaucrats, retired judges, former army officials and traders in foreign banks. It says due to corruption, 16,000 people have committed suicide this year. (Ausaf Edit, 1 November)

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)

1. Ibrat writes that the entire region of KP was being destroyed due to the ‘war on terror’. Growing number of deaths will result in anger and unrest. This mindset was caused by drone attacks. (Ibrat Edit) 

SINDH

1. Malir Bar Association has decided to hold a meeting about the shortages of judges in the Sindh High Court. Only 2 out of 17 judges in the Sindh High Court are Sindhi. The Association also claimed that hundreds of cases lay unattended due to 20 vacancies in the Sindh High Court, and demanded that appointment of more Sindhis as judges. All district bar associations will meet at Malir by end of this month to chalk out and announce an agitation program. (Ibrat)

BALOCHISTAN

1. Ahmad Bux Lehri, Chief Secretary, Balochistan, said that plans were afoot to build other cities along the lines of Gwadar. He said that in order to bring down population pressure on Quetta, Gwadar would be the capital of Balochistan for three months. He said there were plans to lay railway line from Gwadar to Mustang. He also said that the country’s largest airport was being planned in Gwadar. (Awami Awaz)

POK NEWS/KASHMIR

1. Former Premier of AJK Sardar Atiq Ahmad Khan said that Nazariya-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakisan is a part of their faith. (Daily Dharti, Baad-e-Shimal)

 G-B NEWS

1. Gilgit Baltistan Finance Minister Muhammad Ali Akhtar said that GB does not have complete provincial freedom. (Baad-e-Shimal)