CHINA
1. Science and Technology Minister has indicated that Pakistan would import the latest technology from China for establishment of an atomic power plant. (Ummat)
2. Khabrain edit is on attacks in China for which Pakistan was blamed. ‘Through investigations of Chinese officials it has been proved that Pakistan had no involvement in these attacks. It must be the propaganda of rivals of Pakistan and China to create rift between two countries which was foiled by the Chinese investigation report. (Khabrain Edit)
RUSSIA
1. According to reliable diplomatic sources, Russia is ready to reopen the defence production sector for Pakistan. The stated reason for this change has been that now India considers Russia as its junior partner after building close relations with USA. The sources added that both countries are in formal talks over buying Russian made fighter jets and multi-purpose transport helicopters. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
UNITED STATES
1. USA has offered a non-permanent UNSC seat to Pakistan on the condition that an operation in North Waziristan takes place, sources said pointing out that Pakistan faces strong opposition from India on the UNSC seat. (Jasarat/Nawa-i-Waqt/Jinnah)
2. JI chief Syed Munawar Hasan has rejected the statement of the American ambassador that Pakistan had links with the Taliban and Haqqani Network. He said this allegation is an attempt to blame Pakistan to cover up the impending ignominy of defeat in Afghanistan. (Jasarat)
3. A US spy plane was destroyed in Makin in South Waziristan, on Sunday. Tehreek-e-Taliban claimed that they had shot it down; however, security forces stated that the spy plane had come down due to a technical snag. (Baad-e-Shimal/Nawa-i-Waqt/Jinnah/Daily Pak)
4. Ausaf Editorial: Changes in Pakistan’s foreign policy are evident…PM Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan had accepted many American demands and now is for America to ‘do more’. … COAS Gen Kayani on the other hand has clearly said to NATO authorities in Madrid that Pakistan is a sovereign country and it has the right to adopt its own policy. The nation has been waiting for a long time to see the government and military jointly take a firm stand against America and NATO. (Ausaf Edit, 18 September)
5. EDITORIALS appeared on fresh allegations levelled by the US ambassador that Pakistan is in contact with the Haqqani Network and the HN was increasing attacks on US forces in Afghanistan with the support of Pakistan. “America is making these allegations against Pakistan to hide its defeat in Afghanistan. The leader of the Haqqani Network Sirajuddin Haqqani has called up an American news agency and declared that they have no hideouts in Pakistan and that they feel more secure in Afghanistan. Haqqani said that they were waging war in Afghanistan to defend the ‘Islamic State of Afghanistan’ and that they were under leadership of Taliban commander Mullah Omar”. (Jasarat Edit/Nawa-i-Waqt Edit/Daily Pak Edit / Jinnah Edit/Ummat Edit/Jang Edit)
6. Baad-e-Shimal editorial regrets that the US has revoked its offer of $1 billion for construction of Diamer dam. The US action was a sequel to Pakistan’s failure to pay any heed to US objections on Pakistan’s gas pipe line agreement with Iran. It is good that the Pakistan government decided not to bow down to US dictates and is going ahead with the Iran gas pipe line project. If Pakistan completes Diamer dam project without US help then it will be a major achievement. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
INDIA
1. Pakistan would import vegetables from India once again this year due to the heavy floods in Sindh. (Jang)
2. Maulana Muhammad Shafiq (Abu Jindal) writes in his column that it was a fact that a commando of a Pakistani agency had deployed something at the Indian radar system near Chrar-e-Sharif close to Badgam road which had completely destroyed it. (Al Qalam Weekly, 16-22 September)
3. India has once again released water from the Jhelum River which have entered Pakistan from Chakoti near the LoC. (Jasarat)
4. India has again released water into the River Jhelum. Announcements were made in the mosques for people to shift to safer places. The water released in the River Sutlej has also caused destruction in Borewala. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
5. Without giving any advance information to AJK authorities, J&K Administration has released dam water in the Jhelum River, which has raised the water level by 4 feet even. (Daily Dharti, Ummat)
DEFENCE
1. Intelligence agencies have demanded action against officials of four jails from where activists of defunct organizations were issuing instructions of terror activities. In Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur and Quetta central jails, members of defunct organizations bribe officials and also threaten them. The Tehreek-e-Taliban, Ghazi Force and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi have formed a group whereas another group comprises JuD and LeT; both groups have serious disagreements and that could become a cause to trigger a major incident. (Jasarat)
2. Pakistan has rejected American demands to launch operations in North Waziristan. COAS Gen Kayani expressed serious concerns over statements of American defence officials who are against the sovereignty of Pakistan and stated that the decision of operations in North Waziristan will be taken by Pakistan. (Jasarat)
TERRORISM-EXTREMISM
1. At Aka Khel area of Khyber, five persons including four volunteers of the Aman Force were killed by militants. In a counter attack 10 militants were killed. (Baad-e-Shimal/Nawa-i-Waqt)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. At a meeting between the Sindh Interior Minister the Punjab governor, the Sindh minister said that if needed, rangers would be given more powers to maintain law and order in Sindh. (Ibrat)
2. Senior PPP activists in Balochistan have said they have no confidence in the provincial party chief. They have demanded his replacement and also his team. They said as per decisions taken in the Karachi meet, a new team be set up under presidency of Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani. (Kawish)
3. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has instructed rangers, police and CCPO Sindh to take special efforts for the security of lawyers. The direction followed secret information received by the Interior Ministry that there were threats to target and kidnap lawyers. (Khabrain)
4. Daily Intekhab editorial: Pakistan’s image was being ruined in the international community. Pakistan’s Defence equipment stall at the London Defence Exhibition was closed by the authorities as it was distributing literature regarding restricted defence items. …..Floods have destroyed many villages in Sindh and the government has failed to make relief arrangements as many of the affected families have no shelter and food. ….America has been pressurizing Pakistan about the presence of Al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan which Pakistani authorities have been denying and if America carries out another operation like Abbotabad only to find the suspects it would be shameful for Pakistan. After Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s resignation, Pakistan was without any foreign minister for some time and all such issues are destroying Pakistan’s image about which the leadership should get serious and sincere. (Daily Intekhab Edit)
WATER- ECONOMY- ENERGY
1. Governor of Sindh, Sardar Latif Khosa said that the Kalabagh will not be allowed to be constructed at any cost. He pointed out that in India floods don’t become a political issue. India has constructed 76 small dams. If Pakistan opts for small dams, recurring floods can be avoided. (Jasarat)
2. UPON returning from rain-affected areas of Sindh, the Punjab governor said as long as there weren’t any adequate arrangements for storage of water, these floods would continue ravaging the country, He said there should be consensus soon on a dam, whether it was the Kalabagh dam or any other, so that more water can be stored. (Kawish)
3. According to economic experts, if USD 97 billion belonging to Pakistan was brought back from Swiss banks, Pakistan could get rid of the IMF loans, and Pakistan could hope for tax free budget for 30 years; six crore jobs could be created, free electricity would be possible for 500 projects and every Pakistani youth could earn Rs. 20,000 per month for 60 years. (Khabrain, Nawa-i-Waqt)
SINDH
1. Hundreds of rain-affected people from Thatta and other places have flocked to Malir and set up tents for themselves as authorities made no arrangements for them. Some of these people are staying on roads. (Ibrat, 18 September)
2. Sindh Bachao Committee said that Bashir Quereshi’s arrest was just a ploy to crush the nationalist movement in Sindh. (Ibrat, 18 September)
3. Flood affected people are staging protest rallies across Sindh. (Kawish)
4. In Awami Awaz, Assad Chandiyo writes: a handful of local Muslims were oppressing Hindu Sindhis to migrate to India. The most affected areas are Jacobabad, Kandhkot, Thal and Kashmore. Some local dominant families of waderas/political bigwigs from the ruling PPP are bent on ousting Hindu Sindhi families. There is a big nexus between local police and politicians in this regard. There is an urgent need to investigate the circumstances that force the Hindu Sindhis to migrate. (Awami Awaz, 17 September)
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. PML (N) chairman, Raja Zafar ul Haq, while addressing “Qaid-e-Azam Conference” in Peshawar, said that the two nation ideology is necessary for stability of Pakistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
BALOCHISTAN
1. Unidentified people in Manguli Kalat (Balochistan) fired on the ‘Bolan Mail’ which was travelling from Quetta to Karachi. Many passengers have been reportedly injured. (Jasarat)
2. Qurban Baloch writes that the conditions in Thar and other places affected in the recent rains are beyond description. The administration was insensitive to people’s plight. It’s ironic that in spite of claims of providing people with ‘roti, kapda and makaan’ in poll after poll, these rain-affected people find themselves now in very pathetic and pitiable conditions. The relief should be airlifted alternatively these people should be moved to safer places by airlifting them. Otherwise the flood toll will increase. …In such a scenario, what explanation could the elected representatives, and NGOs offer before world? Even the national media would stand exposed before world for giving too much importance even in current times to issues like political games, for ignoring or relegating to the sidelines other more pressing issues. (Kawish)
POK NEWS
1. Federal government has prevented AJK PM Chaudhry Abdul Majid from attending the OIC convention in American which was to be held on 18 September in view of by-poll election in AJK. (Ausaf, 18 September)
2. President AJK Sardar Yaqub has got permission from the federal government to attend the OIC convention in America. (Daily Dharti)
3. Diplomatic and political circles in Pakistan are wondering if the Foreign Minister will raise the Kashmir issue in the UN general assembly meeting. Kashmir issue is still on UN agenda, but the Pakistan government has avoided raising this issue in the UN assembly. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
4. Former AJK Premier Farooq Haidar and JI–AJK Chief Abdul Rashid Turabi said that efforts to make the Line of Control a permanent border would not be appreciated. They stated that Pakistan would remain incomplete geographically and ideologically till the freedom of Kashmir and AJK should be made the real base camp for the freedom of Kashmir. (Daily Dharti)
G-B NEWS
1. Political pressure is mounting on health officials of Baltistan for illegal recruitments. Volunteers who have been working for years at the district headquarter hospital (Skardu) and such other institutions are being sidelined. (Ausaf, 18 September)
2. Hunza Aman Committee held an important meeting which was attended by convener Sheikh Abid Husain, Wazir Mujahidullah Beg, and (rtd) Brig. Husamullah Beg, besides elders and youths of the area. They decided to hold a long march, protest demonstrations and collective arrests to protest against arrests and government steps. (Baad-e-Shimal)
3. Even after 20 months there has been no progress on Attabad Lake relief work; as a result the traders, directly or indirectly connected with land trade with China or trade with the Sosat dry port have been suffering. The overall economy in GB has suffered a serious setback. (Baad-e-Shimal)
4. Baad-e-Shimal laments at government apathy in providing jobs for teachers discharged from National Education Foundation, and in providing job security for Karakorum Security Force personnel, who will be rendered jobless once Karakoram expansion work is completed. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
