2. China has offered investment to the tune of $10 billion in Gilgit Baltistan to set up 100 powerhouses and extract precious stone using modern techniques, but due to the corrupt government machinery, the file is still resting in Islamabad. Even the American envoy has complained that Pakistani bureaucrats’ corruption is obstructing US investments in Pakistan. (Daily Pak Edit)

3. Daily Pak editorial says increasing Sino-Afghan cooperation is a matter of satisfaction for Pakistan. Islamabad supports the cause for which these two countries are cooperating- : establishing peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.  Pakistan, Afghanistan and China can together fight terrorism and underground powers, and if India would also join, it would be good. . (Daily Pak Edit)

AFGHANISTAN
1. Taliban have attacked three air bases of the Allied Forces in Afghanistan and inflicted heavy casualties. They damaged aircrafts and helicopters. (Al Qalam Weekly, 21-27 September)

2. A message released in the name of Taliban Supreme Commander Mullah Omer states that Mullah Omer appealed to Muslim leaders to take a united stance against Western aggression against Islam to create pressure against America and its allies who have continued hidden support to the worst terrorism against Islam in the name of freedom of expression. Mullah Omer said that blasphemous material was hurting 1 billion Muslims across the world and it was widening the gulf between the West and Muslims. Omer appeals to Muslims that they should control their anger and protest peacefully to force Europe to make anti-blasphemy laws as they have made laws for Jews. Omer warns that if America does not change its attitude, then it will face the brunt in the coming years. (Al Qalam Weekly, 21-27 September)

UNITED STATES
Sources have said that Washington has stepped up its efforts to stop protests against the US in Pakistan. A religious leader would be hired to file a petition against the sacrilegious film in America to dissipate public anger. The federal government would blame the Punjab Government for playing politics on the issue. On the other hand, religious and political parties have decided to start a consolidated movement against the conspiracy. (Ummat)

DEFENCE
1. Federal Minister for the Interior, Rehman Malik, informed Jang that security forces have arrested 20 militants from Maldives trained in FATA. (Jang)

ANTI-ISLAM FILM PROTESTS-
1. JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch said that the next time an incident of blasphemy takes place the protest of the Muslim Umma will be much more intense. He demanded that the UN should make a law to stop blasphemy. (Jasarat)

2. Ulema of different religious parties have extended their support to Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour. (Ausaf)

3. Protests against the controversial film took on a different mood when some radicals set a church ablaze in KP. Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour has made a commendable thing by setting a bounty on the film director. Why others in his party and government are not supporting him and criticized others for not supporting him. (Ummat Edit)

4. It is wrong on the part of MQM to demand that Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour withdraw his statement about the bounty for killer of anti-Islam filmmaker. MQM  has said that ‘Death for Those Who Betray Jinnah’ and if this stand is  justifiable death of blasphemers can also be justified. (Jasarat Edit)

5. Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour did the right thing. If a man can hurt the emotions of billions of Muslims in the name of freedom of expression, Bilour too has exercised his right of free speech. (Ausaf Edit)

6. Statements like Ghulam Ahmed Bilour’s, issuing a bounty for the American filmmaker, will only add fuel to the fire. (Ibrat Edit)

7. In his column, Hamid Mir says that violent protests on 20th September in Islamabad frightened the majority in Pakistan as people saw flags of some groups that had been threatening the government against restoration of NATO supplies along with some political leaders of secret agencies under the guise of ‘Defence of Pakistan’. Everyone saw that NATO supply was resumed and all such stakeholders disappeared from the scene. He says that these elements got a chance again to raise their flags in the name of Ishq-e-Rasool to condemn the sacrilegious film and were extensively covered by the media. Mir says that these groups were a symbol of terror and always claim to fight for the defence of Pakistan along with our secret departments. Mir says that the media received many calls from the general public including women who wanted to join the protests against the disrespect of the Prophet but changed the idea after watching the Islamabad violence and flags of such extremist groups. Mir says that on 21st Sept on the Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool violent protests were seen in Karachi. Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad where authorities had blocked phone services, but that did not mean that all of Pakistan was burning. He says that he saw some youth breaking big flower pots near Jinnah University Road, Islamabad and when asked, they replied that they had come for peaceful protests but the police did not allow them to reach the Parliament and hence they were expressing their anger. Mir further says that later he was surrounded by a group of 15-20 youth with flags of a banned outfit and a youth with beard on his face asked him about his cameraman while others were chanting against America. Mir says that he observed a change in their attitude when he told them that he too had come to protest against the injustice and they shook hands before marching towards the Parliament. Mir writes that this incident forced him to think that the group would now search for some cameraman to record the action. He goes on to say that the main reason for such a ruckus was the absence of the political and religious leadership on this occasion as he himself received many calls from people asking when Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Imran Khan, Munawar Hassan and PM Ashraf would join the protests. Mir writes that as the small processions did not convert into a single big rally, the whole scenario changed and anti-social elements started their work. Mir says that majority of them were trying to reach the American consulates in these cities but then some youth took the law into their hands which could have been avoided if the political or religious leadership was present. Mir says that blocking mobile services was another reason for violence as communication with authorities was not possible to bring the situation under control. Mir says that Balochistan did not observe any such upset as it has no American consulate and the administration had made proper arrangements to control untoward incidents. Mir comments that not only inefficiency of the government and immaturity of the political leadership, but also a different political attitude was a big reason behind such huge vandalism on 21st September. Mir concludes saying that the entire Pakistani community was not involved in the violence and lootings but the crimes of a few people who live in the same society have defamed the entire community. Mir says that such should be punished. (Jang, 24th September)

TERRORISM/EXTREMISM
1. After the ‘Ettefaq Fi Sabilillah Campaign’, the Dawat Department of the Al Rahmat Trust has restarted its activities under which two religious gatherings were organized at different places on 13th September. The first was at Jamia Masjid, Haripur-Hazara on the topic ‘The Wars of Prophet’ on which Maulana Abdul Aziz and Maulana Muhammad Yousuf Farooqui delivered lectures. They said that the revenge for blasphemy was only possible through jihad and killings and stated that blasphemers were crossing all limits but Muslims were ignorant about the obligation of killing and this ignorance was giving courage to enemies. Another program was at Jamia Masjid Shoib Nadeem Shahid at Wah Cantonment on the topic ‘Shohda-e-Namoos-e-Sahba Conference’ in which the central administrator of Al Rahmat Trust Maulana Iliyas Qasimi addressed the gathering. (Al Qalam Weekly, 21-27 September)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. President Zardari will stay for two days in London while going to the US to resolve differences with MQM chief Altaf Husain, sources said. He intended to aid in rescuing Altaf Husain from detention in London. Sources said Altaf is ready to return to Pakistan. (Jinnah)

2. At a meeting of the National Harmony Standing Committee presided by Mahesh Malani, members were angry at the non-appearance of the Chairman of Evacuee Property Trust before the committee. One member said that the government has not released funds reserved for minority members this year and as a result, several projects were left incomplete. He charged instead of using its funds for welfare projects of minorities, Evacuee Property Trust is using the funds on construction of masjids and madrasas. (Ibrat)

3. It would have been better if PM Ashraf had made a visit to the flood affected areas instead of making an aerial survey of the devastation. While the aid package is welcome, it is important to ensure that the aid is not embezzled as usual and that relief reaches the actual beneficiaries. (Daily Intekhab Edit)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. It was wrong to fine the Turkish ship which had to provide energy to Karachi. Matter of concern is the likelihood of corruption mafia’s hand in restricting the Turkish ship’s capacity to produce energy.  (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

SINDH
1. Sindh minister, Saif Allah Darejo, said that the government has not been able to find the real forces behind the assassination of Benazir. (Kawish)

2. Two Hindu youth were kidnapped along with their driver late at night from Khipro. The driver was later found with hands tied while the car was found from near Jhool police station. (Awami Awaz)

3. Shah Nawaz Baloch writing on the new LG ordinance says  it looks PPP has been going all out to appease its political allies and has been doing all this just for sake of prolonging its tenure in office. (Ibrat)

BALOCHISTAN
1. There is generally a bias against Balochistan and the amenities provided to Sindh were denied to Balochistan but PM Ashraf has taken a right step to reach out the flood affected people of Balochistan ( editorials in Ausaf, Khabrain, Nawa-i-Waqt))

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. A meeting of National Assembly’s Standing Committee for Envoys was informed that foreign NGOs were directly funding and supervising 5 projects in FATA. The Committee members were upset at the report and said foreign donors’ interference was causing a threat to national security.  The committee was also informed that 20,000 citizens were affected in terrorist incidents in Kurram Agency. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

POK/ G-B NEWS
1. All the religious parties have decided to gather on one platform to form a new alliance in AJK.  JuD Tehreek-e-Rawalakot played an important role in bringing the religious parties together. (Daily Dharti)

2. The Kashmir Council has tabled a budget of Rs.9.60 billion for the fiscal year 2012-2013. (Daily Dharti, Jang)

3. Talking to Jang London, Mirwaiz Omer Farooq said that he would take up the neglecting of Kashmir during the recently concluded foreign level talks between India and Pakistan. (Jang)

4.  Former AJK Premier Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary said that Japan could save the region from an atomic war by resolving the Kashmir conflict. (Daily Dharti)

5. Lady Health Workers in Gilgit have not received salaries for the last three months in spite of court instructions. Salaries of Rescue 1122 service employees have also not been paid but the minister for planning Raja Azam that the Rescue team would get their salaries soon. (Ausaf)

6. Eagle Squad has been reorganized in Gilgit under the IG’s instructions. Police teams on motorcycles will patrol the city at night. Sub-Inspector Ishaq Husain has been appointed commander of the Squad. (Baad-e-Shimal)

7. Government employees of GB have not received salaries for the last 3 months. Funds for office expenses have dried (Baad-e-Shimal)

8. Federal government has released Rs.1.15 billion for GB –the amount will be distributed for payment of bounced cheques. (Baad-e-Shimal)

9.  NETCO service between Ghizer and Chitral has been restored. People entering Ghizer district will have to produce an ID card. (Baad-e-Shimal)

10. Baad-e-Shimal hails the German Institutes FW for agreeing to provide 3 CT scan machines, 3 ultrasound and 3 X-ray machines for GB. Edit states that these machines will be given to hospitals in Skardu, Gilgit and Diamer.  Edit says that along with taking care of machines, even the issue of non-availability of doctors and medical staff should be taken care of. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

11. Baad-e-Shimal editorially commented on the clash between the Masjid Board and Parliamentary Peace Committee for Power. It said the parliamentary committee should cooperate with the Masjid Board, since members of the Board have played an important role in establishing peace in the area. Though they had any resources or facilities, the Board members went around every lane and met meet people, as opposed to the Peace Committee. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

12. Despite a better performance, Poonch University is facing funds crunch. AJK President Sardar Yaqoob is also the Vice Chancellor of the Poonch University and he should take notice of this issue. (Daily Dharti Edit)