CHINA
1.China is putting great pressure on Pakistan to allow its military base in the tribal areas in order to keep an eye on training centres set up by the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), said reliable sources, who are privy to the discussions of the ISI chief’s Ahmed Shujaa Pasha in China. ETIM is allegedly behind recent terrorist attacks in the Xinjiang province of China. (Al Qalam Weekly, 12-18 August)
UNITED STATES
1.Drone attacks have increased after the appointment of CIA’s new Station Chief in Islamabad. Hakeemullah Mehsood’s group (TTP) could be working as informers for the CIA as the drones have attacked all Mehsood’s opponents. There were in all 116 drone attacks in the past 10 months; 80% of those killed were innocents. (Ummat)
2.JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, while addressing a gathering, accused India and US of promoting miscreant activities in Pakistan. He said that the US leaving Afghanistan would be the death of India. He also added that Kashmir, Hyderabad, Deccan and other Muslim states captured by India will get freedom soon. (Jinnah)
3.Ausaf says in its editorial that incidents of blasts and suicide attacks have reduced since the Pakistani government curtailed the movements of Americans. Edit writes that the government should make information about America’s clandestine role in Pakistan public so that the people of Pakistan will come to realize how America is trying to cut Pakistan down while Pakistan sacrifices its civilian and military personnel in the War against Terror. (Ausaf Edit, 11 August)
4.Jinnah editorially hailed Pakistan’s stand against granting of visa to US diplomats. “US secret agents were entering the country in the garb of diplomats to assess of Pakistan’s nuclear assets. Pakistan government must give priority to Pakistan’s interests and ensure deportation of additional US officials as their presence is affecting the security of the country. (Jinnah Edit)
INDIA
1.Speaking to the media in Lahore, British High Commissioner said poor relations between India and Pakistan were impairing the regional environment and that both countries will have to make some hard decisions to resolve Kashmir and water issues. (Kawish)
AFGHANISTAN
1.Taliban have shot down two Chinook helicopters in Afghanistan; 31 special commandoes died in the first attack and in the second attack, which was carried out in the Zarmat district, 33 American were killed. Taliban also shot down one U.S. drone in the Nanagarhar City of Jalalabad. (Al Qalam Weekly, 12-18 August)
DEFENCE
1.Commenting on the concern voiced over Karachi situation at the Corps Commanders meeting, JI leader Syed Munawar Hasan has taunted the forces to provide a balance sheet on the operations in tribal areas as people want to know how long these operations will continue and what has been achieved. He demanded an end to all operations in Baluchistan and tribal regions and bringing stakeholders to the negotiation table. (Khabrain)
2.Columnist Hamid Mir writes that FATA additional chief secretary Fazal Kareem Khattak definitely has a support system similar to what Askandar Mirza enjoyed when Gen. Ayyub Khan was the President of Pakistan. “Khattak was extremely rude when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament by the Public Accounts Committee. He told the PAC members that he cannot reveal national security secrets like how much money he gave to blow up a tower across the border in Afghanistan. When asked about the question of levies and fake degrees, he replied: even parliament members have fake degrees. The columnist says the Parliament members seemed so helpless in front of Khattak that they could only give him time to produce the whole account by 31st October. (Jang)
EXTREMISM- TERRORISM
1.JuD has completed construction of 34 mosques in flood-affected areas in Sindh, Balochistan and FATA. (Ummat)
2.Chairman of Nazari-e-Pakistan Trust, Majid Nizami, while presiding over a special session titled “Qaid-e-Azam’s address on 11th August 1947, its backdrop and importance” said an Islamic country or a person having an Islamic outlook cannot be secular. Pakistan was formed in the name of Islam and the two-nation ideology. Hence Pakistan will remain an Islamic country till the Dooms Day. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1.PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has called on leader of the opposition, PML-N’s Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan and ensured him that his reservations will be removed. (Urdupoint, 11 August)
2.Masiha Millalt Party has observed the Minorities day as a Black day and held protest demonstrations outside the Lahore Press Club.(Nawa-i-Waqt)
3.In the Jang, Irfan Siddiqui is critical about the PPP’s plans for new provinces. “Though making new provinces is not illegal it has become clear that the current PPP leadership is not sincere in its intentions to make new provinces; it is only doing this to address their vested interests. It is very unfortunate for Pakistan that its leadership has such a cheap mindset and dirty approach and that is why it has not given any relief to the people of Pakistan. (Jang)
4. Jang editorial is critical of government’s performance. It says government has made life difficult for the people of Pakistan; due to bad governance everywhere dissatisfaction is increasing and it will lead to a massive revolt if the leadership continues along this path. (Jang Edit)
ECONOMY- CORRUPTION
1.The one-day assembly session requisitioned by the opposition ended without any positive proceedings and cost the national treasury Rs.1.5 crore. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2.Khabrain editorial notes that a UN report has listed Pakistan among 21 countries hit by food scarcity and asks the government to control inflation. (Khabrain Edit)
3.Auditor General of Pakistan has pointed out financial irregularities of over Rs. 4 billion
in the Pakistan Foreign Affairs Ministry during the year 2009-10. A report presented in the NA shows that Pakistan’s consulates have made several purchases in violation of norms. One unidentified person is shown as having received $5,185 towards airfare and allowances. The report also reveals the bungling of about one lakh dollars in the purchase of vehicles by the consulates; huge amounts were also spent unlawfully on the purchase of domestic items by employees. One building is shown as being purchased in Frankfurt for 13.80 lakh Euros; although the sale deed makes mention of two sellers, the amount is given to four persons and there is an apprehension that a sum of 3.67 lakh Euros has been misappropriated in the deal. Some bungling is reported also in the sale of a consulate building in Manila and a school building in Indonesia. Losses to the exchequer are also reported on account of bungling in contracts awarded to some companies. (Ibrat)
4.FIA’s Corporate Crime Cell has registered cases against three customs officials for faking/tampering with documents on free trade between China and Pakistan. The officials are booked but the Customs Department refused to hand over to FIA related records of goods imported and duty exempted. Customs officials in collusion with importers showed goods imported from Japan as being imported from China to avail of duty exemptions ranging from 20 to 40%. FIA claims to have got hold of 17 such cases. (Kawish)
BALOCHISTAN
1. COAS Gen. Kayani will inaugurate a mineral project in Musa Khel district in Balochistan today. (Baad-e-Shimal)
2. After meeting COAS, US Ambassador Cameron Munter said that the US wants foreign investment in Balochistan in oil exploration which will benefit the people of Balochistan. He also said that the US wants to promote large-scale development programs in Balochistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
PUNJAB
1. Punjab assembly witnessed chaotic scenes during a debate on creating a new province in South Punjab; members came to blows.. (Ibrat)
2. Writer ‘Kalal’ opines: the crux of the issue in Saraiki is the controlling of resources in the Saraiki belt and that PML-N isn’t prepared to give up its control over them. He says it is undeniable that PML-N will come up with hundreds of roadblocks against the formation of the Saraiki province. The article also states that the Punjab Assembly speaker has not given permission to table the PML-Q proposal on formation of Saraiki province. (Ibrat)
SINDH
1. Speaking to the media in Lahore, British High Commissioner expressed concern over the situation in Karachi; he said the city has a special place in the economy of Pakistan. (Kawish)
2.Veteran politician Pir Pagaro and leaders of PML-N, ANP, Jamiat-e-Islami and Sunni Tehreek have announced their full support to August 13 strike call from nationalist groups in Sindh. (Ibrat, Khabrain).
3. PPP has directed its activists to stage demonstrations at the district level against Sindh nationalist groups and leaders. This decision was reportedly taken at the PPP Sindh Council meeting. The Sindh CM in a press conference said that there will be no apology for reviving the local government system that was in practice since 2001. (Ibrat)
4.Shahi Syed, the ANP chief in Sindh, has appealed to transporters and the business community to be true to Sindh and join the strike on August 13th. (Ibrat)
5. Sindh Bachao Committee held meetings in parts of Sindh. JUI Sindh has also announced its support to the strike. (Ibrat)
6. World Sindhi Congress has extended its support to the August 13th strike, and says it will support every call for protest against any attempt aimed at harming Sindh’s interest. The organization added that the August 13th strike would not be the last agitation, and it would become a campaign against the dual administrative system. (Awami Awaz, 11 August)
7. Jiye Sindh Mahaz organized rallies in parts of Sindh protesting the dual administrative system. (Awami Awaz)
8. Sindh police have made over 40 arrests across the province and seized weapons and narcotics. (Awami Awaz)
9. Federal cabinet ministers Makhadoom Amin Fahim, Abdul Hafiz Sheikh, Rehman Malik, Maulana Bakhsh Chandev and Gouse Mehar Bakhsh held a meeting with President Zardari and discussed issues related to Sindh. (Khabrain, Jinnah)
10. At a meeting with Sindh CM, MQM leaders invited the CM for “Iftar’ dinner on August 17th, leading to speculation that the MQM may join the government. The two parties also discussed the August 13th strike. (Ibrat)
11.Heavy rains have lashed Thar. Several water courses were breached; water entered houses in many areas. 31 were reported dead and over 100 injured (Ibrat)
12. Op-ed articles said: Recent meeting between Pir Pagaro and Sindh nationalist groups is indication enough of turning points in times to come for a “new Sindh”. (Awami Awaz)
13.In Kawish, Dilshad Bhutto Senior writes: Real troubles will come to the fore when nazim polls take place and at that time ANP will use all its force to keep MQM out of power in Karachi. ANP has been opposing the nazim system in local government administration from the beginning. ….It is the weak who often walk up to mighty just as PPP has often dose by walking up to MQM headquarters (1990) and MQM often walks up to Pathan’s headquarters. All because in matters of sway over Karachi, ANP is more powerful than MQM. (Kawish)
14. Awami Awaz says in its edit on discord in Sindh: Sindhis are being given a ‘step-motherly’ treatment by ruling groups and the establishment. If Sindhis are given jobs, be it in the army or judiciary, as per the quota system worked out in 1973, it will help remove the sense of alienation amongst them. (Awami Awaz Edit)
15. Awami Awaz editorial says: both Sindh nationalist groups and PPP are well-wishers of Sindh; their threats and counter threats over the issue of the dual administrative system will only benefit a “third force”; PPP should not do anything that will lead people to stop differentiating between dictatorial and democratic mind-sets. (Awami Awaz Edit)
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1.More than 35 people were killed in the clashes between Lashkar Islam and the Ansar-ul-Islam group that have been on-going for the last three weeks in the Khyber Agency. (Baad-e-Shimal)
POK NEWS
1.GB Chief Minister was on a visit to the proposed district headquarters in Sas Valley but when he reached Hanza Nagar the affectees of Attabad blocked the road and staged protest demonstrations. The DSP of Hanza reached the spot with a few police personnel and ordered the protestors to disburse; the protestors refused and hurled stones at the police, who opened fire. Two protestors were killed and a few others were injured. This further angered the group and they burnt the police post and DC and OAC’s offices and many other important buildings. Protests were held in Gilgit and Sosat as well; the PML-N factions protested against the Hanza incident in Gilgit. (Baad-e-Shimal, Nawa-i-Waqt, Awami Awaz, Khabrain, Jinnah)
1.Rawalakot’s Sangola Village is in a pathetic condition with no electricity and proper water supply system. The area is home to freedom fighters and martyrs. (Daily Dharti)
3.The Standing President of AJK, Sardar Ghulam Sadiq, has criticised the delay in the completion of the Goi road. The government has spent Rs.88 crore on the project but no progress I visible. Nobody should be allowed to siphon off the wealth of the state. (Ausaf, 11 August)
4.Baad-e-Shimal editorial on Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) says: it is a good welfare program to support poor women; but undeserving women are getting the benefit as the assembly members have enrolled their relatives under the scheme. The government has denied the allegation though. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
