2. Sindh CM has approved of a policy introducing Chinese language in govt. and private schools from classes VI to XII. In the first phase, Chinese will be optional from classes VI to VIII and students opting for it will get special incentives including financial and scholarship benefits. Eventually, Chinese will be made compulsory. Those who opt for this language in 2012 and 2013 in classes VI to VIII will get 20 extra marks in their board exams for classes XI and XII in 2015 and 2016. Sources say that government and private universities will also be asked to set up Chinese faculties so that students have this option at the graduate level. Those imparting training will be in touch with the Chinese diplomatic mission or consulates and will also get financial aid, training and visits to China. (Ibrat, 16 October)

3. Sindh’s Minister for Education said that China was financially well off, and hence, it had been decided to bring trainers from China to teach Chinese in Sindhi schools. (Kawish)

AFGHANISTAN
1. On account of Pakistan’s objections, India has not been invited for a conference on the Afghanistan situation to be held in Istanbul next month, where over 90 countries including central Asian countries will be participating. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. Columnist Abdul Hafiz Amirpuri refers to the 10th anniversary of American invasion of Afghanistan and says that now the attackers themselves have become scared of the situation. He says that the situation on ground in Afghanistan was very different from what the US and Karzai try to project. He claims that Afghanistan is still where it was 10 years back. Hafiz writes that the US is confused on whether it should abandon Afghanistan or not. (Al Qalam Weekly, 14 October to 20 October)

3. Ausaf Edit says that the US was losing the war in Afghanistan which is also the reason for the current financial crisis it was facing. It says that after spending 10 years in this war, the US was trying to engage Taliban in a dialogue; it comments that had the US been ready for a dialogue 10 years back, it wouldn’t have lost its credibility in the world. (Ausaf Edit, 15 October)

INDIA
1. Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed has said the Indian Defence Minister called Pakistan as the most dangerous nation in the world but Pakistan has just bestowed India with MFN status. (Ummat)

2. Former DG, ISI, Gen. (Retd) Hamid Gul said that Pakistan giving India MFN status was done only to please the US for some time and that India should know that it would never get trade with Pakistan on a permanent basis, unless the Kashmir issue was resolved. Gul claimed that the Pakistani community would rather disfigure itself than accept Indian domination. He said that the Defence of Pakistan Council has been re-established to remain prepared for any aggression from India or the US. He said that people from all walks of life would be included in the group. (Ummat)

3. Appearing on TV, a prominent analyst Zia Shahid said China has always pressurized Pakistan for focusing on trade instead of creating tensions with India. Shahid said that China has always encouraged Indo-Pak trade. He said that factors like the 1965, 1971 and Kargil wars and extremism in India and Pakistan were creating hurdles in the path of India-Pak trade. He said that India wanted to keep the Kashmir and water disputes aside and give priority to flexibility in Visa policy, trade and border issues. He says that both countries could earn profit but before this, a positive environment should be made amongst the Pakistani people and parliament. He said India was a big economy; hence, having trade relationships with it was beneficial to Pakistan. He said that (Khabrain)

4. Jasarat EDIT criticizes Pakistan’s decision to grant India the MFN status; it says that India had never shown any sign that it wanted friendly relations with Pakistan. Edit says that India has been behind the deteriorating situation in Balochistan; it says that the Indian consulates in Afghanistan were giving rise to suspicions about their role. It says that India had always accused Pakistan of terrorism alongside the US and now, it had entered Afghanistan through an agreement with Karzai to train the Afghan military. Edit wonders about the mindset of an Afghan soldier, trained by India, regarding Pakistan. (Jasarat Edit)
 
UNITED STATES
1. US embassy has denied reports of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s Pakistan visit. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. Former DG, ISI, Gen. (Retd) Hamid Gul said that the Pakistani forces were providing protection  to American heavy war goods convoys to Afghanistan from Karachi which are now routed through the GT Road.  He said that the US would not put boots on ground in Pakistan but would increase its drone attacks, especially targeting the Haqqani Network. (Ummat)

3. Speaking in Quetta, JUI-F’s Fazlur Rehman said that Pakistan was being accused of interfering in Afghanistan’s affairs despite siding with the US for these 10 years in the war on terror. He said that the Army and the government had passed a joint resolution but it has not being implemented because of seemingly different views on national affairs. Rehman claimed that the US was just dramatising its war against terror to get access to other countries. He said that there was a well-planned conspiracy to connect Pakistan with the Haqqani Network. He alleged that the US was engaged in an exercise to control resources of rich countries. (Kawish)

4. Nawa-i-Waqt EDIT says that after Pakistan’s refusal to act against the Haqqani Network, the Obama administration has decided to take action itself and for this purpose, it has decided to intensify drone attacks in South and North Waziristan. Edit says that the Pakistan Air Force was capable of shooting down drones and it should do so. It ends by saying that the Pakistani government should sever itself from the American war on terror. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

5. Editorials talk about increased drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas by CIA on instructions from the US President Obama and criticize the government for not taking a decision against American aggression. Edits says that the CIA never hesitates to give figures of civilian deaths in drone attacks but Pakistani government even avoids accepting these numbers. All this drama started during Musharraf’s regime but during his time, the deaths were much lower than the thousands that have already died in the 3 years of a democratic government. Edits end by saying that increasing drone attacks were meant to pressurize Pakistan. (Ummat Edit, Jang Edit)

DEFENCE
1. Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said that Pakistan did not have a secret deal with the US about drone attacks and if they continue, Pakistan’s patience will end. He said that Pakistan was a responsible nuclear power and that those who had reservations with Pakistan, were now offering to talk with the Haqqani Network. (Jasarat, Awami Awaz)

2. Anti-Terror Court in Rawalpindi has dismissed a petition seeking the removal of 2 police officers from the list of accused in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case. Charges will now be framed against these officers, namely Saud Aziz who made security arrangements for Benazir and SP Khurram Shahzad. (Ibrat, 16 October)

3. Anti-Terror Court in Rawalpindi has admitted a petition from Musharraf’s wife challenging the confiscation of Musharraf’s property; this case will be heard on October 22nd. (Ibrat, 16 October)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. While addressing the Islami Jamiat-e-Tulba Pakistan at the Punjab University, JI chief Syed Munawar Hassan urged the public to make the ‘Go America Go’ rally impact creating. He said that Osama was the name of an outlook, not a person. He said 46 countries forces could not prove assassination of Osama bin Laden. (Khabrain, Daily Pak)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Sheikh Rashid of the Awami Muslim League said that if there is no change in the country by November 13th, there will be another ‘Zardari’ in the country. He claimed that the PIA planes were deliberately grounded due to demands for commissions from deals. (Awami Awaz)

2. PML-F leader Pir Pagaro said that November was the month of political changes when the country would change. He said that this change would be good for the people and that he would support it. (Ibrat, 16 October)

3. PML-N is working towards a new grand alliance to defeat the PPP government. It is said that the movement would be called the Tehrik-e-Nijaat (Liberty Movement) and any group against the government would be welcomed to join the alliance. Nawaz Sharif was taking a lenient approach and barring MQM, he would even allow people and groups not acceptable to him.  (Ummat)

4. PPP leaders are trying to placate Former Interior Minister of Sindh Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza and have even offered a ticket to his son; Mirza has reportedly declined this offer. Another report said Mirza has announced his son Hussaini will contest from the Badeen seat that has fallen vacant with his resignation. Mirza said this decision had been taken by the people at Badeen. (Ummat, Awami Awaz)

5. According to federal Census Department, out of 18 crore Pakistanis, 7.39 crores were living below poverty line and millions of people did not have access to basic necessities. From 2008 to 2011, the rate of poverty has increased drastically and in the past three years, 2.86 crore people were added to the list of poor people, due to unemployment and spiralling inflation. (Daily Intekhab, Jang)

6. Nawa-i-Waqt EDIT refers to ANP spokesperson’s call to people to have patience and says that even after three years, the government has failed to overcome one single crisis. Referring to PM’s statement about funds being allocated for the Kalabagh Dam, edit says that only by allocating funds, the dam will not be built. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

7. In his column, Hamid Mir writes about the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Movement and its slogan that we are 99%. Mir writes that Pakistani youth should also stand up against this capitalist system. (Jang)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. President Zardari has convened a meeting with Railway officials today to discuss the financial crisis affecting Pakistan Railways. It is believed that the Railways may get a bailout package of Rs. 10 billion and this meeting may also discuss measures on how to contain engine shortfall. (Awami Awaz)

2. Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) workers have decided to start an agitation against the unwarranted sackings. A meeting would be held on 22nd October in this regard and sources say that government department trade unions would also join the movement. (Ummat)

3. Punjab police has nabbed 6 officers of the Food Department who have embezzled wheat worth Rs. 3 crores. (Daily Pak)

SINDH
1. Jiye Sindh Mahaz’s Riyaz Chandiyo said that his group will fully participate in the Sindh Bachao Committee programme to gherao the Sindh Governor’s House on November 3rd. He said that PPP had done nothing worth mention for peoples’ welfare. (Kawish)

2. Interior Minister Rehman Malik has announced a reward of Rs. 5 lakh on information regarding culprits in Karachi. He claimed that the business community is regaining its confidence with the arrest of culprits. (Awami Awaz)

3. Sindh’s Minister for Education said a 2-day holiday was useless when almost 55000 schools of Sindh had no electricity. (Kawish)

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Residents of Harban Kohistan continued their sit-in on the Karakoram Highway for the third consecutive day. They claim that the Kohistan areas would also fall where the Diamir Bhasha Dam was being built but the residents of Kohistan had not been paid any compensation. They demanded that before the dam got constructed, a vocational training centre should be set up in Kohistan and local educated youth should be ensured employment in the construction of the dam. They also asked for 20% royalty from the dam be allocated for the development of Kohistan. (Baad-e-Shimal)

BALOCHISTAN
1. Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan spokesperson said that JUI-F was the biggest obstacle in the unification of religious parties. He added that Maulana Fazlur Rahman should stop accusing JI Chief Munawar Hassan. (Daily Intekhab)

POK NEWS
1. Addressing the Hizb Command Council in Muzaffarabad, UJC Chief and Hizbul Mujahedeen Supreme commander, Syed Salahuddin said that the MFN status was similar to rubbing the salt on wounds of Kashmiris. He also said that this was a clear deviation from Pakistan’s actual stand on Kashmir. He said that this attitude of Pakistan would be disastrous for the freedom movement. (Hizb Media, 14 October, Ummat)

2. Daily Dharti EDIT talks about the unscheduled load shedding in AJK, despite the implementation of a 5-day work week in all government departments. Edit says that the federal government needed to clear out all its dues to electricity generation companies and increase production, otherwise, AJK should be allowed to use the electricity produced from the Mangla Dam with the surplus being given to other provinces. (Daily Dharti Edit)

G-B NEWS
1. G-B Bar Association chairman and chief of G-B Labour Party, Advocate Ahsan Ali told Baad-e- Shimal that he feared relief material sent by China will be misappropriated. Ali wants that this material be distributed by committees elected by locals. (Baad-e-Shimal)

2. Gilgit flood victims said that 103 containers of goods had come from China for the Attabad Lake affected people and hence, they should also be provided with commodities sent by China. (Ausaf, 15 October)

3. Baad-e-Shimal EDIT applauds the inauguration of the Diamir Bhasha that is to take place tomorrow. It says that with this dam, the province will enter a new phase of construction and development. Edit says that after the construction, not only G-B, but even other provinces will gain huge benefits. (Baad-e-Shimal-Edit)