INDIA
1. Pak Foreign Office spokesperson has said Pakistan will encourage the influence of America, Russia and China to resolve the Kashmir dispute. (Urdupoint)

2. AJK PM Chaudhary Abdul Majid has alleged that India resumed work on the Wullar Barrage once again and that this is a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. The barrage is coming up at Sopore in Baramulla district. Work on the project was stopped in 1990s, when the ‘Kashmir freedom movement’ started. Majid said that if the barrage is completed, it would affect the Neelum-Jhelum, Pakistan’s largest hydropower project. (Urdupoint)

AFGHANISTAN/ UNITED STATES
1. British MI5’s chief Jonathan Evans has revealed that various jihadi groups related to al-Qaida have now shifted their activities from the Pak-Afghan tribal areas to Arab countries. The changing situation in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan has encouraged jihadi groups and they have set up their jihadi camps in Arab countries. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. Pakistan has strongly opposed US drone attacks in Upper Orakzai Agency on the Haqqani Group madrassa that killed 16 students and Maulana Shakirullah Jan of the Haqqani Group. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

3. Afghanistan has refused to cooperate in the arrest Roohullah who had killed former Attorney General and Peshawar High Court judge.  Roohullah was roaming about freely in Afghanistan as a patron of Mangal Bagh and was running his vast business in Pakistan and Dubai, in addition to carrying out arms smuggling and terrorist acts inside Pakistan. (Ummat)

4. At the two-day meet of Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority, it was agreed to issue multiple visas for 6 months to Pakistani and Afghan traders, and to do away with the insurance guarantee condition for export articles, in order to facilitate easy trading. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

5. NATO forces have killed 24 Taliban militants including the Haqqani Network leader and arrested 33 others in various joint operations during the last 24 hours. (Baad-e-Shimal)

DEFENCE
1. There is the probability of a decision being taken to launch the North Waziristan operation. (By Khushnood Ali Khan editor in Jinnah)

2. Joint Chief of Staff Committee meeting reviewed national security and the changing conditions in the region. Joint Chief of Staff Committee, Gen. Khalid Shamim Wynne presided. Army chief Gen. Kayani, Admiral Asif Sandila and Air Chief Tahir Rafiq Butt attended, along with the Secretary Defence Productivity, DG ISI, and DG Strategic Plans Division. The military leadership expressed determination to continue the war against terrorism.  (Baad-e-Shimal, Jinnah)

3. Unknown people have abducted Brig. (Retd) Tahir Masood from his house. He is said to be working for ISI on contract, and was investigating cases against extremists. (Ummat)

4. While the Army chief is justified in his determination to combat terrorism, the decision to launch military operation in North Waziristan should not be taken emotionally and in haste. Such steps should be considered after careful deliberation since the military operation had failed to establish government’s writ in Swat. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

5. COAS has vowed to fight back and continue the war on terror until the end. It is clear that the Army had taken a clear decision on the issue of terrorism but this war should be separated from the US war on terror. Today’s state has considered Islamic extremists as their number one enemy and the era of General Zia was over. Pro-democratic and progressive groups should take full advantage of this new policy of the establishment and the state.  Any movement could be successful only if it was free from external influences and   the public needed to believe that terrorism was their own problem. Now that the state and its various institutions have clarified their stand on the issue of terrorism, it is the responsibility of intellectuals, political activists and analysts to unravel the real faces of tyranny and terrorism in the name of religion. (Daily Intekhab Edit)
    

ATTACK ON MALALA
1. Intensity of agitations over the anti-Islam film has been reduced after the attack on Malala Yusufzai. (Ummat)

2. Ansar-ul-Ummah Pakistan Chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman Khalil said that dozens of Malala have been killed in drone strikes but no one has every raised a voice in their support in the way Malala Yusufzai’s attack was being highlighted. Hamid Mir said that other such incidents did not get proper coverage because the media was not allowed to visit these areas. (Jang)

3. KP Interior Ministry and KP IG have made a new security plan for Malala Yusufzai in view of the fresh threat issued by TTP. Under the plan, women police commandoes have been deployed inside Malala’s residence and an ATC special squad is posted outside. (Jasarat)

4. Though the attack on Malala Yusufzai was extremely shameful, the hype being created on it across the globe was not fair. Every human being was important and from Karachi to Waziristan, so many innocents were being killed every day, but neither the national media nor the international media has paid proper attention to such incidents.  American drones had killed many respectable members of tribes but their deaths had never been discussed with such zeal.  Taliban were definitely not on the right path but neither are the others; the negligence shown by the Ulema, the political leadership, media and civil society in responding in a similar fashion to killings of other innocents could not be ignored.  Either intentionally, or unintentionally, we were working on the agenda of the enemies of Islam. (Ummat Edit)

TERRORISM/EXTREMISM
1. DPC Chief Maulana Samiul Haq said that the MMA restoration was a fraud to deceive the public. He added that no party had contacted him for joining the alliance. He said that JUI-S was a part of DPC which comprised of JI, Jamiat Nazaryati, JuD and Alh-e-Sunnat O Al Jamaat and that if there has to be an alliance for elections, it would be with the parties affiliated with the DPC. (Daily Intekhab, Jasarat)

2.  Annual congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat will be held in Raiwind between October 16th and October 18th. (Ausaf)

3. Lal Masjid Deputy Cleric Maulana Aamir Siddiqui said that Chief Justice of Supreme Court Iftekhar Chaudhary was not an expert on Sharia. He alleged that during the Musharraf era, the CJP had taken an oath under PCO and hence, under Article 62, he didn’t remain honest and truthful. Siddiqui said that when Musharraf ruined the Constitution, the CJP did not protect it and allowed Musharraf to make amendments. (Jasarat, Urdupoint)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Political and military leadership decided to adopt a new strategy against extremists to stop incidents like the attack on Malala Yusufzai.  The decision followed a high level meeting at the Presidential Palace; PM Ashraf, COAS Gen Kayani and other top officials participated. President Zardari said that it was the responsibility of the state to ensure internal security and that the government and the people could not be threatened by a fistful of terrorists. COAS Gen Kayani informed the PM and President in detail about his recent visit to Russia and gave a briefing over the action against terrorists and the operational preparedness of the Army. (Urdupoint)

2. PML-N has issued a whip to all its parliamentarians to be present in National Assembly and Senate as the party apprehends that the government may try to get the National Accountability Bill passed by force.  (Urdupoint)

3. American group ‘Code Pink’ members who attended the PTI peace march had participated mainly for fundraising and were unhappy over the U-turn taken by Imran Khan from Tank. (Ummat)

4. After the formation of the caretaker government, Musharraf will return to Pakistan, according to APML Punjab Secretary Information Saima Ali. (Khabrain)

5. According to a private TV channel, former President Musharraf admitted that NRO was his mistake. He added that if the NRO agreement had not been signed, then the conditions in the country would have been better. (Khabrain)

6. Jang welcomes the settlement between the government and the SC over writing to Swiss authorities. It says that this time round, both sides had worked sensibly and positively and that other issues should also be resolved with the same spirit. Edit says that as far as elections were concerned, an interim setup could be formed in consultation with the opposition and then general elections should be conducted as soon as possible. (Jang Edit)

7. Jasarat’s edit on SC’s acceptance of the government’s draft of letter to Swiss authorities  says that now the threat of PM’s disqualification or proceeding of contempt of court case against him was over. Edit writes that it seems like the possibility of a clash between the government and the judiciary had ended. Edit writes that serious political and constitutional circles were pondering over why the government had not shown similar flexibility earlier. (Jasarat Edit)

8.Irfan Siddiqui writes that his forecast that former Premier Gilani would not leave PPP and that he would stop his blame-game has come true. President Zardari, who is aware of everyone’s pulse, invited him to dinner and once at the dining table, Gilani forgot all his complaints. The main concern of Gilani was not the case against his son, but the removal of his people from bureaucracy. The likes of Gilani can never gather the courage to leave PPP. (Jang)

ECONOMY/ENERGY/WATER
1. Advisor to the Petroleum Ministry Dr Asim said that the gas scarcity in the country was 3 billion cubic feet. Load-shedding of gas will be less this winter in comparison last year. He also said that within two years, the gas scarcity end with the discovery of new reservoirs. (Urdupoint)

2. Turkmenistan Ambassador to Pakistan Ata Jan Maula Muod said his government is extending the railway and electricity network up to Afghanistan which will help Pakistan in promoting transit trade and reduce electricity shortage. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Baad-e-Shimal)

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. In an interview with ‘Daily Hazara News’, the senior Deputy President of Hazara Awami Ittehad Hajji Ahmed Nawaz Khan Swati said that the formation of new provinces in the country was inevitable in order to abolish terrorism, inflation and corruption. He says that the 4 provinces created on administrative bases, were unable to address these issues. (Daily Hazara News)

PUNJAB

SINDH
1. PPP’s minority member in Sindh Assembly Saleem Khurshid Khokhar said that he was receiving death threats for raising a voice in support of minorities. Though he had informed in writing the President, the PM and Interior Minister, he was not being given security.   Even Bilawal Bhutto had assured him that he would be given security, but he was yet to receive any. He threatened to resign if his demands are not met and claimed that he faced threat from fundamentalists and Taliban. (Kawish)

2. Sindh government has set up a 15-member committee under the Sindh Minorities Minister to look into minority’s complaints and also to take measures so that no anti- minority act takes place. The major tasks before this committee include getting laws enacted against forced marriages of minorities, measures to ensure against extortions of Hindu businessmen, implementation of 5% job quota for minorities, preparation of recommendations for the Hindu marriage act, and getting encroachments on places of worship of minorities removed. (Kawish)

3.  PPP (SB)’s chairperson Ghinwa Bhutto alleged that the government wanted to make Karachi the ‘next Israel’ by creating Gaza-like conditions across Sindh. She said that the partition of Sindh will not be allowed at any cost. She   claimed that the government was being dictated by UK and the US as they wanted to pit people of Sindh against each other. (Awami Awaz)

4. Sindh Tariqui Pasand’s hunger strike in Hyderabad against the controversial local government ordinance has entered its 5th day. (Ibrat)
5. Sindh Police IG has said that the continued target killings in Karachi were due to drug mafia groups. He also said that there was a well-planned strategy at work behind sectarian disturbances in the city. (Ibrat)

6.  Awami Awaz’s editorial alleges that the country’s establishment was trying to pit people against each other in Sindh. It says that across the globe it was an accepted fact that Pakistan’s establishment was very cunning and got its job done in a clandestine manner. It alleges that the local government ordinance bill was the work of the establishment and now people in Sindh were pitted against one another; this would serve the establishment’s purpose of breaking PPP’s 40-year old stronghold over Sindh. Edit says that it had become all the more imperative for the establishment as after the elimination of Bhuttos from the political scene, PPP was in the way of the establishment’s return to power. PPP, that has been a darling of Sindhis up until recently, has lost its footing due to this move as the bill has managed to turn Sindhis against PPP. It is also engaged in a fight against Sindhi nationalist groups. Edit says that either way, the establishment stands to benefit as the establishment is not happy either with PPP or with Sindhi nationalist groups. Edit warns that if Sindhis did not unite, Sindh’s geography may be at stake. (Awami Awaz Edit)

7. Sindhu Desh Liberation Army carried out attacks on PPP ministers’ houses in Sindh interiors, evidence shows, according to Ummat. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Difa-e-Pakistan Council will organize a Kashmir Freedom Conference on October 19th in Muzaffarabad and the meet will be chaired by Maulana Sami-ul-Haq. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. AJK President Sardar Yaqoob said that the Kashmiri leadership will also be included in the Indo-Pak talks on the Kashmir issue. He said that this decision was taken by President Zardari in his meeting with Kashmiri leaders in New York.    (Baad-e-Shimal, Jinnah)

3. Gilgit-Baltistan government did not get Rs. 7 billion from the federal government and hence, paying salaries to employees was becoming difficult.  (Baad-e-Shimal)

4. Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Peer Syed Karam Ali Shah, who met President Zardari, said that Zardari had agreed to address the joint session of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and Gilgit-Baltistan Council on 1st November on occasion of Gilgit-Baltistan’s independence. Shah said that Zardari will soon announce a package for Gilgit-Baltistan to resolve its monetary crisis.   Zardari had promised to provide support for the permanent rehabilitation of families affected by the Attabad Lake tragedy. He said that under the Presidential package, Gilgit-Baltistan will get Rs. 15 billion annually as a grant and Karakoram Highway construction would be speeded up. (Ausaf)
5. Gilgit-Baltistan CM Mehdi Shah informed ‘Baad-e-Shimal’ that he will talk to President Zardari about the Jaglot-Skardu road and will urge him to get this project started immediately as it was very essential for entire Gilgit-Baltistan. (Baad-e-Shimal)

6. Gilgit-Baltistan Minister Shakeel Ahmed said that whoever has been involved in illegal recruitments will not be spared. He said that the Finance Ministry had formed a committee to investigate this issue and very soon, facts will be brought before the public. Ahmed also claimed that he had stopped illegal recruitments in his department. (Ausaf)

7. Gilgit-Baltistan government did not pay attention to hospitals in Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas after WAPDA management’s announcement that WAPDA will upgrade hospitals in Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas, which turned out to be just a political gimmick. (Baad-e-Shimal)

8. Astore was facing acute wheat scarcity and people have been eating only rice for almost a month now. (Baad-e-Shimal)

9. Roads are in a sorry state   in Rawalakot.  Such pathetic conditions of roads would stop foreign tourists from visiting the area. (Daily Dharti Edit)

10. Facilities for doctors and para medics are deplorable at   Gilgit’s district Headquarters hospital which doesn’t have proper equipment.   G B chief secretary’s visit to the hospital-Gilgit and his promise of better deal to health sector are welcome. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)