23 may 2012 osint pakistan tracker

7/31/2019 23 may 2012 osint pakistan tracker

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TheCENTCOM This OSINT publication contains foreign mediaderived entirely from open sources in andaround the CENTCOM AOR.

OSINT Phone #: 813.827.1441 - Email: [email protected]

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NEWS

Death Marches on Karachi Streets: Daily TimesAs many as 11 people were killed and 19 others wounded when armed men attacked a rally by outlawedoperatives of the Peoples Aman Committee and other nationalist organizations against the Mohajir provincemovement, in Lyari area of the city. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

Turkey Backs Pakistan over NATO Supplies: Daily TimesTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday supported Pakistan on resumption of NATO supplies,saying it is an internal matter of Pakistan. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of RadicalElements)

Pakistan, US Inch Closer for Reopening of NATO Supplies: Daily TimesPakistani and US negotiating teams, engaged in talks on restoration of NATO supply, have inched closer toconclusion, official sources said on Tuesday. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of RadicalElements)

Turkey Key Player in Punjab Development: CM: Daily TimesPunjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday said Turkey played an important role in the development ofPunjab. He said the Punjab government was pleased with the visit of Turk lawmakers to the country. (Source:Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

Balochistan Case: CJ says PM Must Act to Improve Situation: Dawn NewsDefense Secretary Nargis Sethi and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Khushnood Lashari on Wednesdayappeared before the Supreme Court bench hearing the Balochistan law and order case, Dawn News reported. (Source: Karachi, Pakistan; Anti-Military Rule)

Sindh Wide Strike on Nationalists Call: Dawn NewsA province-wide strike was being observed on Wednesday across Sindh on a call given by nationalist parties inprotest to the violent incident during a rally in Karachi the previous day, Dawn News reported. (Source: Karachi,Pakistan; Anti-Military Rule)

Malik Orders Forming Joint Investigation Team to Probe Karachi Violence: Dawn NewsInterior Minister Rehman Malik has authorized the formation of an investigation team to probe the incident involvinga gun-attack on a political rally brought out by Sindhi nationalist party, Awami Tehrik, in Karachi, Dawn Newsreported on Wednesday. (Source: Karachi, Pakistan; Anti-Military Rule)

Steps to Tide Over Power Crisis Discussed: Dawn NewsA four-member ministerial committee on power crisis concluded on Tuesday that about 2300MW of additionalelectricity could be produced by providing funding and natural gas and taking appropriate administrative measures

to reduce the power shortfall which has gone up to 7000MW. (Source: Karachi, Pakistan; Anti-Military Rule)

Five People Killed in US Drone Strike in North Waziristan: The NationAt least five people were killed and several others injured when U.S. drones fired two missiles at a house in DattaKhel town of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) early on Wednesday morning. According to the media reports, fiveU.S. drones were flying before they fired two missiles at the house. (Source: Islamabad, Conservative, Part ofthe Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group)

Pakistan Speeding up Work on 4th N-Reactor at Khushab: The Nation


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Pakistan is half way through the construction of its fourth nuclear reactor at Khushab, which will give it capability tospeed up plutonium manufacturing, latest US satellite imagery has revealed, US media reported on Wednesday. (Source: Islamabad, Conservative, Part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group)

Rs 39.65M Allocated for Law, Order in Next Budget: The NationThe Sindh government has allocated Rs 39.65 million for the security and maintenance of public order in thebudget 2011-12.The total security budget comprises Rs 30.478 billion for police, budgetary allocations for Law andJustice, Home Department, Sindh Rangers and jails. (Source: Islamabad, Conservative, Part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group)

Turkey Respects Pak Decision on NATO Supply: The NationTurkey on Tuesday said it respects Pakistans decision on NATO supply routes and endorses its demand for anapology from the United States over the killing of its troops at Salala Check post as both sides inked nine accordsof cooperation and pledged to boost bilateral ties. (Source: Islamabad, Conservative, Part of the Nawa-i-Waqtpublishing group)

Qureshi Condemns Cases against PTI Members: Pak TribunePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has condemned the 'forged' first informationreports (FIRs) registered against the party and its students' wing leaders. (Source: Pakistan, Independent,neutral)

Aitzaz Appointed Counsel in Bhutto Reference: Pak TribuneActing President Nayyar Hussain Bukhari on Tuesday appointed Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, in place of Babar Awan, ascounsel to argue and address the Supreme Court in a reference of re-visiting the trial of former Prime MinisterZulfikar Ali Bhutto. (Source: Pakistan, Independent, neutral)

Zardari's Articulation of Pakistan Position Led to Clarity: Farhat: Pak Tribune

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the impression that Pakistan was going to announce restoration ofNATO supply routes during the Chicago summit as a condition for the country's attendance had been provenwrong. (Source: Pakistan, Independent, neutral)

PM Gilani can't be Disqualified in View of SC Order: AG Irfan: Pak TribuneAttorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir has opposed disqualification of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in view of theSupreme Court's (SC) judgment in a contempt of court case against him. (Source: Pakistan, Independent,neutral)

EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL: Prime Minister Erdogans Visit: Daily TimesTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently on a visit to Pakistan, was invited for the second time to

address a joint session of our parliament. The esteemed prime minister from one of Pakistans closest friendsstressed the importance of a continuation of democracy, which he said is also vital for regional peace. (Source:Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

SECOND EDITORIAL: PNS Mehran Siege and the Missing Truth: Daily TimesIt seems unjust that the punishment by a court martial to three senior officers of the Mehran base should be aninsignificant demotion. At the very least, they deserved to be discharged. Three serving Navy officers, including thecommander of the base, Commodore Raja Tahir, have been convicted for their criminal negligence with regard tothe security arrangements at the sensitive base. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of RadicalElements)


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VIEW: Pakistans Afghan Dilemma: Daily TimesPakistans own contradictions and conflicts are so overwhelming that the state has no time to work out analternative strategy to save Pakistan. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

A Few Words: The Youth Bulge: Daily TimesGenerally speaking, it is not sure whether or not the youth bulge will help a political party win an election but it iscertain that the bulge is bound to brew social frustration. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical ofRadical Elements)

Thinking Aloud: No Trivial Matter: Daily TimesOne can measure the level of social development and civic consciousness of any society by the attitude of itsmembers to public hygiene. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

VIEW: A Woman in Kashmir, a Curse or a Blessing?: Daily TimesShe now hides in a safe house, isolated and alone. Like most Kashmiri women, she has lost all hope. Suicide in theState of Jammu and Kashmir is a daily occurrence. Women, sometimes even young girls, kill themselves in aneffort to escape a lifetime of abuse and suffering. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of RadicalElements)

Supporting Documentation:

NEWS (Top)

23 May 2012Daily Times

Death Marches on Karachi Streets

Unclassified

KARACHI: As many as 11 people were killed and 19 others wounded when armed men attacked a rally byoutlawed operatives of the Peoples Aman Committee and other nationalist organizations against the Mohajirprovince movement, in Lyari area of the city.

According to details, Awami Tehreek leader Ayaz Palijo had announced to take out a rally against the Mohajirprovince, while the Aman Committee and other Sindhi nationalist organizations supported him.


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The rally was taken out from Football House and moved towards the Cheel Chowk, the most sensitive area wherepolice have failed to restore peace despite a week-long operation that claimed 40 lives last month.

Participants of the rally were holding placards and banners inscribed with comments against the division of Sindh,and also chanting slogans against the Mohajir province movement and other rival political groups.

As soon as the rally reached near Ghas Mandi, close to Cheel Chowk, unidentified gunmen started firing on it andfled, leaving four demonstrators and passersby injured.

Following the incident, participants of the rally staged a sit-in protest at Napier Road near Pan Mandi. However,armed men appeared again and resorted to indiscriminate fire at the protest. They also opened indiscriminate fire invarious areas, including Lee Market, Garden and other areas. The firing incidents resulted in over 70 people,including women and children, sustaining bullet wounds. The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital Karachi,Lyari General Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Witnesses said the firings incidents brought a halt to commercial and non-commercial activities as shopkeeperswere trapped inside their shops and localities.

Those killed included M Iqbal, a security guard at Civil Hospital, who was shot dead near KMC workshop, whileYousuf Abdullah, Amina, Ejaz Khan, Manzoor Fareed, Sher Muhammad, Babar, Sharifa Shamsher, Ghazala Batoolwere also killed. Police sources said Ghazala was an employee of PIA and a resident of Gulshan Hadeed. Theyalso claimed seven people died due to firing at the Awami Tehreek rally while four others were killed in Dhobi Ghatarea during clashes in reaction to the firing.

South SSP Nasir Aftab said at least 51 injured people, including women and children, were rushed to differenthospitals.

The injured also included a cameraman of a private TV channel, Khalil Adeel, a reporter Aslam Khan, InspectorIdrees Alam Bangash, Constable Bahadur, and Zulfikar Bacchal.

Miscreants also torched some 15 motorcycles, seven other vehicles and eight shops in various areas of SaddarTown, while three houses were also set ablaze near Nigar Cinema. Heavy aerial firing was reported in several areaof the city, including Korangi, Chamra Chowrangi, Rabia City, Micasa Apartments and other areas, injuring fivepeople.

Later, heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies rushed to maintain law and order following the violence.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Asif Zardari strongly condemned the killing ofinnocent people in Karachi. Gilani sought a report from the provincial government on the abhorrent killings and bothhim and the president directed strict measures to bring peace to the city.

23 May 2012Daily TimesTurkey backs Pakistan over NATO SuppliesISLAMABAD: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday supported Pakistan on resumption ofNATO supplies, saying it is an internal matter of Pakistan.

While jointly addressing a press conference with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani after the inking of nineagreements for cooperation in diverse fields, Erdogan said the opening of the NATO supply routes was the


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prerogative of Pakistan. However, as a member of NATO, Turkey believes that such issues should be resolvedthrough mutual dialogue, he said. The Turkish premier also endorsed Pakistans demand for an apology from theUS for the Salala border post attack that left 24 Pakistani troops dead.

Responding to a question, he said NATO has decided to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014, but the date is notabsolute and the pull back might be delayed. As for Turkey, he said it will withdraw from Afghanistan after all troopshad left the country. He vowed Turkey is not going abandon its Afghan brothers. Speaking about the government-opposition confrontation in Pakistan, Erdogan advised the opposition to be constructive and serve the country andpeople. He warned if the two sides kept fighting among themselves, the people of the country would sufferprofoundly.

We should put the people first. The state is secondary. The purpose of the state is only to serve the people, andnot anything else, the Turkish premier observed. He also said Pakistan would be able to take the place it deservesin the world if the political parties in the country demonstrated shoulder-to-shoulder politics. Erdogan said the twocountries have moved forward on the Preferential Trade Agreement and hope to sign it at the earliest.

Let us continue with our bilateral investment and encourage entrepreneurship, not only to invest in each otherscountry, but also to jointly invest in a third country, he said. He noted that with the inking of the latest nineagreements, the total had reached 100, which was reflective of the unique friendship and the close relationshipbetween the two countries. The Turk premier said nine years back bilateral trade between the two countries was$175 million and has now risen to $1 billion. It is our goal to raise it to $2 billion at the earliest.

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Gilani said the final decision to open the NATO supplies, and its timing,would be made in line with the recommendations of the parliamentary committee. However, he made it clear thatPakistan wishes to move along with the world. We wish to make it clear that Pakistan is the part of solution, andnot the problem for Afghanistan. The prime minister reiterated Pakistans stance that it supported a stable,

sovereign, prosperous and independent Afghanistan, and added that it desired a political solution that was Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.

He was appreciative of the support extended by Turkeys President Abdullah Gul to Pakistan at the NATO Summitin Chicago. The world must have recognition of the services rendered by Pakistan in its fight against terrorism,Gilani told reporters. He said a decision based on the recommendations of the parliamentary committee would notonly be long-lasting but also have the endorsement of the people of Pakistan.

23 May 2012Daily TimesPakistan, US Inch Closer for Reopening of NATO SuppliesISLAMABAD: Pakistani and US negotiating teams, engaged in talks on restoration of NATO supply, have inched

closer to conclusion, official sources said on Tuesday.

Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that a Pakistani team was in Washington for talks on reopeningsupply to NATO in Afghanistan, while a visiting US team was engaged in talks with Pakistani officials in Islamabad.Talks on the issue of reopening NATO routes between the US and Pakistan are moving forward, Mark Stroh, theUS embassy spokesman, told Daily Times.

Sources said that talks on NATO air strikes in Salala in November had almost concluded and it was guaranteedthat such mishaps would never happen again. The two sides agreed on a mechanism that would ensure non-occurrence of Salala-like incidents in the future.


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Sources said US officials had also agreed to seek an apology for the incident but they would wait for a proper time.

Sources in the Commerce Ministry said talks on charges for each NATO truck passing through Pakistan were alsounderway. Pakistan has demanded $5,000 per truck but US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has ruled out payingthis amount considering the financial challenges.

23 May 2012Daily TimesTurkey Key Player in Punjab Development: CMLAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday said Turkey played an important role in thedevelopment of Punjab. He said the Punjab government was pleased with the visit of Turk lawmakers to thecountry.

He was talking to a five-member delegation of Turk parliamentarians led by Burhan Kiaturk at the GovernmentHouse, Murree. Adviser to CM Raja Ashfaq Sarwar was also present.

Shahbaz said that Turkey had been playing an important role in the development of Punjab and there werelongstanding relations between Pakistan and Turkey. The CM also said Turkey had always extended invaluablecooperation. He said that Istanbul and Lahore were twin cities and that is why Lahoris extended a rousing welcometo the Istanbuls mayor during his visit to Lahore.

The chief minister invited the Turk delegation to Lahore and said that he and his government were anxiouslywaiting for their visit. He said that Turkey had extended commendable cooperation for the development of various

sectors in Punjab. Kiaturk accepted the invitation and said that a delegation of Turk lawmakers would visit the cityin November this year. Welcoming the sentiments of the CM he said that the Turk legislators would be happy to

visit Lahore as it would also provide them an opportunity to learn more about the city. He said that Turkey was alsokeen to invest in trade and industrial sector in Punjab.

On Monday, Shahbaz said, Turkey is an old friend of Pakistan and we are thankful to Turkish PM Tayyip Erdoganfor cooperating in the ongoing development projects in Punjab. He had also said Turkey had given proof of itsfriendship by launching projects such as metro bus service, solid waste management and setting up IT University.The CM had said the PML-N by participating in the joint session of parliament had given a message that Pak-Turkfriendship was above all differences. He had said, Our participation in the parliamentary session does not meanthat we will give up the struggle against corrupt government. We cannot remain silent over the loot and plunder ofthe rulers.

23 May 2012

Dawn NewsBalochistan Case: CJ says PM must Act to Improve Situation


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(U) Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Defense Secretary Nargis Sethi and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Khushnood Lashari onWednesday appeared before the Supreme Court bench hearing the Balochistan law and order case, Dawn Newsreported.

A three-judge bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji ArifHussain and Justice Jawad S. Khwaja was hearing a petition on the law and order situation and human rightsviolations in Balochistan at its Quetta registry.

During the hearing, the chief justice again termed the provinces security situation as alarming. He said theprovincial capital of Quetta had no-go areas and that police officers were not willing to work in Balochistan.

The defense secretary told the bench that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI) hadprepared a report pertaining to the situation in Balochistan.

Sethi moreover said that she had spoken to officials from the ISI and the MI over the situation in the southwesternprovince.

The chief justice inquired of Principal Secretary Lashari as to what measures the federal government had taken toaddress the state of the province.

Justice Iftikhar said that the provinces security situation had become so alarming that it was time the prime ministersummoned the provinces governor and chief minister.

He moreover said that if the prime minister would not act to improve the situation, the Constitution would take itscourse and that might even entail the option of imposition of emergency.

Also during the hearing, Justice Khwaja said that Chief Minister Balochistan Aslam Raisani had been in Quetta for

a mere seven days in the past six months.

The court moreover issued summons for Balochistans home minister to appear before it.

The cases hearing was subsequently adjourned to June 1.

Earlier during Tuesdays hearing, the bench had expressed dismay over non-appearance of the secretaries ofdefense and interior and principal secretary to the prime minister before it and had observed that it appeared thegovernment, police and law enforcement agencies had no interest in recovering the missing persons.


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The court had on Monday summoned these officials, along with principal secretaries to the governor and the chiefminister of Balochistan, to explain why the courts orders had not been complied with so far.

Only Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Hafiz Basit appeared before the court during Tuesdays hearing. Alsoduring Tuesdays hearing, Deputy Attorney General Malik Sikandar Khan had informed the bench that he hadresigned from his post, but he had conveyed to the officials concerned the courts orders to appear before it inperson.

23 May 2012Dawn NewsSindh Wide Strike on Nationalists Call

(U Rangers official stand alert near burnt vehicles which was set ablaze by unknown miscreants during ongoingviolence during Awami Tehreeks Mohabbat Sindh rally in Karachi

KARACHI: A province-wide strike was being observed on Wednesday across Sindh on a call given by nationalist

parties in protest to the violent incident during a rally in Karachi the previous day, Dawn News reported.

Business centers remained closed and traffic remained sparse on roads as sporadic incidents of violencecontinued. Most examinations scheduled for the day had been announced as postponed.

In one incident, unknown gunmen opened fire on a bus in Karachis Quaidabad area, leaving one person dead andinjuring four others.

Arsonists burned tires and set a public transport bus on fire in the citys Lea market area.

Some parts of Karachi bore a deserted look whereas others were relatively normal.

Tension and fear gripped certain areas and incidents of firing were reported in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Safoora Goth,

Sachal Goth and Malir.

Two bodies were found near the UBL Sports Complex in Federal B area. The unidentified men were shot dead andtheir bodies bore torture marks.

A heavy contingent of Rangers conducted targeted operations in Lines Area, Ranchore Lines, Ramswami andGarden areas of the city.

Twelve suspects were taken into custody during the operation and Rangers claimed recovering heavy weaponsincluding two anti-aircraft guns, 22 Ak-47s, 11 repeater shotguns and 10 TT handguns.


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A large number of ammunition was also recovered.

The suspects had been shifted to an unknown location for interrogation.

Earlier President Asif Ali Zardari taking notice of the situation in the city had ordered the Interior Ministry to submit areport within 48 hours.

23 May 2012Dawn NewsMalik Orders Forming Joint Investigation Team to Probe Karachi ViolenceISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has authorized the formation of an investigation team to probe theincident involving a gun-attack on a political rally brought out by Sindhi nationalist party, Awami Tehrik, in Karachi,Dawn News reported on Wednesday.

The federal minister ordered a thorough and impartial probe by a joint investigation team into Tuesdays violencewhich resulted in at least 11 deaths.

The joint investigation team is to be led by Additional IG Police Karachi whereas members of the team wouldinclude officials from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Federal InvestigationAgency (FIA) and Special Branch.

According to television reports, the team is to analyze several factors, such as why ATs Ayaz Latif Palijo took out arally without obtaining a permit to do so and also on whose orders were scores of cars, motorcycles and shopsransacked and then set ablaze.

The team would also determine the identities of those who were killed in the violence.

Moreover, under the auspices of the joint investigation team, Police and Rangers would conduct a thorough probeinto the incident.

23 May 2012Dawn NewsSteps to Tide Over Power Crisis DiscussedISLAMABAD: A four-member ministerial committee on power crisis concluded on Tuesday that about 2300MW ofadditional electricity could be produced by providing funding and natural gas and taking appropriate administrativemeasures to reduce the power shortfall which has gone up to 7000MW.

The committee, led by Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and comprising Information Minister Qamar Zaman

Kaira, Kashmir Affairs Minister Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo and Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar, wouldsubmit the plan to the federal cabinet during its meeting on Wednesday.

To be presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the cabinet will particularly take up the energy crisis asa special agenda item in view of coming elections and power shortfall amid rising temperatures.

A water and power ministry official who attended the meeting told Dawn that even though the committee was led bythe finance minister, it was Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira who was conducting the proceedings in anaggressive manner. He told participants to prepare specific recommendations for the cabinet meeting so that loadshedding could be reduced.


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The meeting was informed that about 2,300MW could be added to the system in the coming 8-10 days.

The main objective of the meeting was to review electricity production and demand situation, sudden increase inelectricity demand and how to reduce shortfall. The meeting was informed that the total generation on Tuesdaystood at 10600MW in the day which increased to 11000MW in peak hours. This included 1442MW of WAPDAsgeneration companies, 6111MW from private producers and nuclear power plants and 3076MW from hydelresources.

On the same day last year, the electricity generation had stood at 15,000MW and remained in the same bandthroughout May.

The meeting was informed that peak demand in these days hovered around 18,000-19000MW. Mr. Kaira told theparticipants that non-operational units both in the public and private sector had to be brought into production,whether it required additional financing, additional gas supplies or coercive administrative measures where someproducers might be using various excuses for keeping their plants unutilized to force the government for financing.

We will have to take bold steps to make full use of generation capacity and the federal cabinet will approve thesemeasures on Wednesday, Mr. Kaira was quoted as telling participants.

He expressed surprise as to why the energy committee did not consider increasing production even though it hasbeen discussing circular debt and restructuring of power companies.

He particularly criticized power companies and the ministry of water and power for not adopting a proper loadmanagement formula and wanted to know under what principle the Lahore Electric Supply Company was providedelectricity that was creating public unrest and providing an opportunity for the Punjab government to exploit thesituation for political gains.

An official said the information minister asked the power companies to prepare a proper load managementmechanism that could be made public and defended on principle of equity and fairness.

The official said the meeting considered providing additional funding to enable the public and private powerproducers to purchase fuel and use maximum capacity.

Mr. Kaira said the finance ministry should make available additional funding on war footing and petroleum ministryshould divert gas for power generation.

And if required use of force to bring into production forced closure of private plants, the government would also nothesitate, he said.

The finance minister agreed to provide the additional funding, but asked the ministry of water and power to come

up with special proposals and funding requirements that could be considered by the federal cabinet.

The meeting directed the ministry of water and power and power companies to improve their bill recoveries to atleast 90 per cent.

23 May 2012The NationFive People Killed in US Drone Strike in North Waziristan


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At least five people were killed and several others injured when U.S. drones fired two missiles at a house in DattaKhel town of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) early on Wednesday morning.

According to the media reports, five U.S. drones were flying before they fired two missiles at the house.

At least five persons were killed in the strike while several others were injured. The house was completelydestroyed in the attack. Identities of the victims in the strike are not known immediately as North Waziristan is a far-flung mountainous tribal area bordering Afghanistan. This is the first U.S. drone attack following the ChicagoSummit during which the U.S. President Barack Obama reportedly said that the United States and Pakistan weremaking "diligent progress" on reopening a vital NATO supply line into Afghanistan, which has been closed byPakistan following a deadly NATO air strike on two Pakistani border check posts in November 2011.

Pakistan has demanded an apology for the afore-said air strike which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and wounded 13others and a halt to U.S. drone strikes as preconditions for reopening the NATO supply line. But both demandshave been ignored by the United States. Wednesday morning's U.S. drone strike is the 13th of its kind (counted ondaily basis) in Pakistan in 2012. Up to date, at least 98 people have reportedly been killed in such strikes since thisyear. According to an AFP tally, 45 US missile strikes were reported in Pakistan's tribal belt in 2009, the yearObama took office, 101 in 2010 and 64 in 2011. The New America Foundation think tank in Washington says dronestrikes have killed between 1,715 and 2,680 people in Pakistan in the past eight years.

23 May 2012The NationPakistan Speeding Up Work on 4th N-Reactor at Khushab

Unclassified

Pakistan is half way through the construction of its fourth nuclear reactor at Khushab, which will give it capability tospeed up plutonium manufacturing, latest US satellite imagery has revealed, US media reported on Wednesday.

On completion, the reactor would enable Islamabad to build large number of smaller nuclear warheads,Washington-based eminent think-tank Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said.


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Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme is considered to be among the fastest growing in the world by Stockholm-based International Peace Research Institute, with the estimates of Islamabad possessing 90-110 nuclearwarheads.

Releasing the latest satellite imageries, ISIS said construction of the fourth Khushab reactor and supportingbuildings is progressing with the reactor building about halfway to completion.

Based on the available imagery ISIS estimates that the construction of the fourth reactor is proceeding about 30 percent faster than construction on reactor three and that major external work could be complete within fifteen months.

The reactor, located 200 kilometers south of Islamabad, is the latest addition to the Khushab nuclear site and isdedicated to the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons.

In addition to the fourth reactor, the Khushab site includes two reactors similar in shape to the fourth one, a heavywater production plant, and an original, nominal 50 megawatt-thermal heavy water reactor completed in 1998.

"This increase in plutonium production represents a growing nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan," itsaid, adding in order to avoid a dangerous escalation, the US and the world community should increase efforts toconvince Pakistan to stop blocking negotiations of the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty at the Geneva Conference onDisarmament.

23 May 2012The NationRs 39.65M Allocated for Law, Order in Next BudgetKARACHI - The Sindh government has allocated Rs 39.65 million for the security and maintenance of public orderin the budget 2011-12.The total security budget comprises Rs 30.478 billion for police, budgetary allocations for

Law and Justice, Home Department, Sindh Rangers and jails. As per the documents, the provincial governmenthas allocated a total of Rs 30.478b for police.

The document showed that last year Rs 29.688b were allocated for police. The government has announcedfinancial autonomy at the police station level in the next financial year. In order to improve the condition of policestations, eliminate extortion, thana culture and enhance accountability and responsibility for better law and ordersituation and relief for the public, the Finance Department in consultation with the Sindh Police has decided tocreate new cost centre/DDO at police stations so that they could become financially autonomous for utilization ofoperational funds, Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said in his budget speech.

He added that this would not add any financial burden to the public exchequer; but would rather placeestablishment and operational funds at the disposal of the station house officer or SDPO for their proper utilization.

In budget 2011-12, 41 new cost centers/DDOs would be created in the first phase while in the next phase, all 692offices of sub-divisional police officers and police stations in Sindh would be provided separate budget by splittingthe existing cost centers. This initiative will place funds for establishment, POL products, repair & maintenance,uniform, feeding charges, drugs and medicine and purchase of stationery at the disposal of police stations.

23 May 2012The NationTurkey Respects Pak Decision on NATO Supply


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ISLAMABAD Turkey on Tuesday said it respects Pakistans decision on NATO supply routes and endorses itsdemand for an apology from the United States over the killing of its troops at Salala Check post as both sides inkednine accords of cooperation and pledged to boost bilateral ties.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, replying to a question at a joint press conference with PrimeMinister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at PMs House, said he wanted to see solidarity and cooperation between thegovernment and opposition in order to serve the interests of the people of Pakistan.

When asked whether he would like to play a role of a mediator between the government and opposition, Turkishpremier said he wanted to see solidarity and cohesion between the government and opposition for the collectivegood of the people and in a light vein said he wished to have supportive opposition back at home.

He, however, avoided answer to the part of question that whether he would be playing a role of mediator betweenthe government and Opposition.

Turkish Premier said both brotherly countries had displayed support and solidarity with each other at hard times. Hesaid, Our brotherly relations are unique and efforts will be made to further solidify them. He recalled that hiscountry extended full support to Pakistan in 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods. He said it made an investment of135 million dollars for the construction of schools, houses and Mosques in the affected areas.

He said during his last visit to Pakistan the government had the support of the opposition and he had wished tohave the same kind of opposition back at home. He said the opposition should play a constructive role keeping inview the interest of the people. We should be people centric and put people first.

He said Pakistan stopped NATO supplies following attack on Salala Check post, which claimed lives of Pakistanisoldiers. He, however, said it was the discretion of Pakistan to decide about it but as a member of NATO headvocates for the resolution of disputes through dialogue.

Erdogan said, NATO has decided to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014 but the date is not final and might bedelayed.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan was compelled to block NATO supply routes followingunprovoked attack on Salala Check post by ISAF and NATO forces. In his opening remarks at joint stakeout PrimeMinister Gilani said the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Turkey was unique and shared by the people ofthe two countries. He said the High Level Cooperation Council was a special forum that brought the cabinets of thetwo countries together to review bilateral relations in different fields.

He said the second meeting of High Level Cooperation Council jointly chaired by him and the Turkish PrimeMinister Tuesday decided to further expand cooperation in different sectors.

He expressed the confidence that the agreements will serve another milestone and give impetus to the brotherlyrelations.

Gilani said Turkey was all weather friend of Pakistan. He said both countries cooperated with each other at regionaland international fora. Turkey always stood by Pakistan in its testing times.

Gilani said Pakistan was holding dialogue with the US in the light of the parliamentary recommendations. He saidduring talks all the regional and international issues including issue of NATO supply also came under discussion.


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We are part of solution and not part of problem, he said, adding, that an independent, stable and sovereignAfghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan. We will support any political settlement that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. He said the world should also realize Pakistans sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

Later, the Turkish dignitary planted a sapling at the lawns of the PMs House as gesture of brotherhood betweenthe people of two countries. Erdogan was scheduled for a meeting with Nawaz Sharif. To a question he said hebelieved that the government and opposition needed to stand united to serve the country.

I hope to see solid relations and cooperation as it could serve the interests of Pakistan, Erdogan said.

He said people of Pakistan would suffer if the opposition and the government would continue fighting each otherand expressed the hope that they would stand united, shoulder to shoulder, to make Pakistan strong.

Gilani, in his written remarks, described the second meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council as unique as itnot only helped review the decisions, but also gave a fresh impetus to their bilateral relations.

Erdogan said the two countries had moved forward on the Preferential Trade Agreement and hope to sign it at theearliest.

Let us continue with our bilateral investment and encourage entrepreneurship, not only to invest in each otherscountry, but also to jointly invest in a third country, Erdogan said.

He mentioned that with the inking of the latest nine agreements, the total now stood at around 100 and which wasreflective of the unique friendship and the close relationship between the two countries.

He said the bilateral trade between the two countries, nine years back was 175 million and now it stood at US 1billion dollars. It is our goal to raise it to US dollars two billion at the earliest.

He said a rule of economy stated that money like mercury would follow to the most favorable place andentrepreneurs would follow it and added that no investor would put his money to a place, where he feared, hewould lose it.

He said his country took steps for favorable conditions to attract investment and said Turkey would continue to helpPakistan in all areas.

Ergogan said his country would complete the pledged housing project in Pakistan by the end of the year.

Earlier, Gilani and Erdogan co-chaired the second meeting of High-Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) and agreedto boost bilateral relations in all sectors, particularly security, energy, communication, trade and culture.

In all some nine agreements were signed between Pakistan and Turkey for cooperation in various fields particularlyinvestments, energy and communications in a bid to further strengthen their bilateral relationship.

Both prime ministers witnessed the signing of accords at a ceremony held here at the PMs House.

The documents included an agreement on bilateral investment, five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) mainlyon energy, education and communication and two protocols on Joint Ministerial Commission and cooperation onarchives.


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The Joint Declaration issued at the conclusion of the HLCC meeting said Pakistan and Turkey recognized acommon vision and desire for peace and prosperity of their people and their region.

It was agreed that cooperation between the security agencies of Pakistan and Turkey would be broadened in thefields of counter-terrorism and drug trafficking, especially in the areas of capacity building and exchange ofexperience.

It was also agreed that the two countries would intensify their ongoing cooperation while defense-related industrieswould focus on joint defense production and related research and development activities.

On energy cooperation, it was decided that power generation would be developed through strengthening ofinformation sharing on energy projects and facilitation of private sector involvement.

A meeting will be held in Turkey before the end of 2012 to enhance cooperation in the field of renewable energy.

The two sides agreed to increase cooperation in the fields of geothermal sources, geo-information systems andremote sensing through exchange of scientific and technical information, exchange of expertise, study visits andtraining.

Pakistan and Turkey decided to devise a plan of action in energy sector agreed during the meeting of theirpresidents on April 2, 2010. The joint working group on energy would work on the plan of action and would presentits recommendations to the next HLCC.

The two sides agreed to encourage private Pakistani and Turkish companies to set up hydro-electric power stationsand sub-stations on turn-key basis. In the field of education, Turkey will supply teachers, curriculum and training

materials for Turkish language courses provided that the Turkish language be introduced in the curriculum in

Pakistan.

The two sides decided to constitute a joint working group on technical and vocational training, introduce newexchange programs for civil experts in the fields of energy, transport, agriculture, security services and publicadministration, scholarship schemes and proposals to set up Techno Parks.

Pakistan and Turkey stressed to increase existing trade volume and directed the concerned ministries to concludetechnical discussion to finalize the Preferential Trade Agreement.

Pakistan said it would provide special incentive packages to Turkish businessmen and will establish ExclusiveInvestment Zones for the Turkish companies desirous of investing in Pakistan.

The two sides decided to hold next meeting of Turkey-Pakistan Joint Business Council in September 2012 or in

March 2013 in Turkey.

In the sector of railways and communication, Pakistan and Turkey agreed for bilateral cooperation to facilitatetransit trade, ship-building and repairs, vessel tracking system, road construction projects, and up gradation ofrailway rolling stock and locomotives.

It was decided to ensure operations of Islamabad-Tehran- Istanbul Container Trainer (ECO Train) on a regularbasis with participation of private sector.


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The two sides agreed to explore possibilities of running high-speed trains, repair of passenger and cargo trains,training of transport officials and exchange of technical experts.

On political cooperation, Pakistan and Turkey acknowledged the significance of HLCC as a major political forum tosteer bilateral relations. It was decided that annual consultations at the level of foreign ministers would be heldalternately in Ankara and Islamabad.

The first meeting will be hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad in the last quarter of 2012.

In finance and banking sector, cooperation on Islamic banking, microfinance banking, training and exchange visitswas focused. The two sides agreed on insurance information centre, catastrophe insurance arbitration methodsand private pension system, capital market regulations, public debt and risk management system, performancebased budgeting, financial reporting and Internal Financial Control.

The meeting stressed to strengthen cooperation between Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) of Turkeyand Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) of Pakistan in the field of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing bysharing information.

The two sides stressed collaboration between the Istanbul Stock Exchange Market and Karachi Stock ExchangeMarket to cross-border listing and portfolio investment. They called for implementation of Currency SwapArrangement signed between the Central Bank of Turkey and the State Bank of Pakistan.

Pakistan and Turkey announced to celebrate the years 2013-2014 as cultural years with enhanced cooperation oftheir media, exchange of television programs, and bilateral visits of cultural troupes and tour operators.

Pakistan said it would offer a free ethnographic corner to Turkey at Pakistani museums while Turkey expressed itsintention to open a Cultural Centre in Pakistan in near future. The two sides agreed that seven Joint Working

Groups of the HLCC would continue their work to develop specific programs.

It was decided that the next meeting of the HLC will be held in Ankara in 2013 for which the dates will be finalizedthrough diplomatic channels.

23 May 2012Pak TribuneQureshi Condemns Cases against PTI MembersLAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has condemned the 'forged' firstinformation reports (FIRs) registered against the party and its students' wing leaders.

He expressed his resentment while addressing a press conference on Tuesday. PTI Central Information Secretary

Shafqat Mahmood, PTI Women Wing's Punjab President Saloni Bukhari, Insaaf Students Federation (ISF) LahorePresident Muhammad Usman, Andleeb Abbas and other party leaders were also present on the occasion. Qureshisaid that Punjab had been turned into a police state where political activities by opposition parties were considereda crime.

Speaking on the war on terror, he said that the government had failed in presenting its case before the internationalcommunity despite the strategic importance of Pakistan in NATO exit from Afghanistan.


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He said that it was most unfortunate that fingers were being pointed at Pakistan after the country had sacrificed themost in the war on terror, and humiliation faced at the Chicago summit was evidence of the same. Threats toPakistan from incompetent rulers were significantly more serious than external challenges, he added.

On the prime minister's conviction by the Supreme Court, he said that Gilani has the right to appeal in the contemptcase and PTI would decide its future course against the government after the verdict on the appeal. He said thatthe PTI's membership campaign would continue until June 30 and ISF had set up camps for the purpose in Lahore.

Divulging details of state-backed violence against the party, he said that criminal elements of the Muslim StudentsFederation (MSF) attacked ISF workers and when party members protested against the incident, Punjab Policelodged fake FIRs under 16 MPO against numerous PTI and ISF leaders.

Qureshi demanded that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif should take immediate action against the criminalelements and invalidate the fake FIRs lodged against the PTI and ISF leaders otherwise the party would not beable to control the emotions of its workers and the Punjab government would be responsible for the situation.

Qureshi said that the PPP government was governing without any political legitimacy and moral authority. Thepresident has no support of the people and the head of the government had been convicted, he said. One cannotexpect the international community to take Pakistan's perspective seriously under the present circumstances, headded. He said that PTI's meeting on May 27 would be a historic one.

23 May 2012Pak TribuneZardari's Articulation of Pakistan Position Led to Clarity: FarhatPresidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the impression that Pakistan was going to announce restoration ofNATO supply routes during the Chicago summit as a condition for the country's attendance had been proven

wrong.

Babar was briefing journalists along with Ambassador Sherry Rehman at the conclusion of the two-day summit,attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

The spokesman noted that President Asif Ali Zardari's articulation of Pakistan's position on restoration of groundlines of communication and other issues has led to clarity and understanding of Islamabad's perspective.

In his interactions, President Zardari made it clear that the Salala incident on November 26, 2011, which resulted indeaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers, forced upon Islamabad a review of the relationship. The president also stated thatparliament has issued guidelines for the bilateral relationship and that Islamabad is bound to follow thoseguidelines.

"This impression has been wrong, there is now greater clarity on both sides whether it was meeting with SecretaryHillary Clinton or speech at the NATO-ISAF meeting or a brief encounter with US President Barack Obama, allthese have resulted in greater clarity and understanding of the Pakistani position," Babar said.

He explained his point that clarity means recognition by President Obama that the two sides need to work throughissues.

"If President Obama says we need to work through tensions and President Zardari says we are bound to followparliamentary guidelines, it is clarity."


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Pakistan, he said, has created space for diplomacy.

About conditions for resumption of NATO supply routes, Babar said the most important thing is that there is mutualtrust and respect. He also briefed the media about President Zardari's meetings with his Turkish counterpartAbullah Gul and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Sherry Rehman said the democratic government has been dealing with issues unambiguously and transparently.Pakistan, she said, clearly has concerns.

"We cannot gloss over differences we are dealing with issues without compromising Pakistan's strategicconcerns, we are following parliamentary guidelines we are looking for an apology."

She said that Pakistan and the United States are trying to work through their differences. "Pakistan's nationalinterest cannot be traded for positive feedback at conferences," she said in answer to a suggestion that Pakistan'sgestures could have won it international appreciation. "No country is trading their interests. Pakistan, the US andNATO are all searching for common ground." She said Pakistan has been very clear about its sovereignty.

23 May 2012Pak TribuneAitzaz Appointed Counsel in Bhutto ReferenceISLAMABAD: Acting President Nayyar Hussain Bukhari on Tuesday appointed Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, in place ofBabar Awan, as counsel to argue and address the Supreme Court in a reference of re-visiting the trial of formerPrime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

President Asif Ali Zardari has made the reference under Article 186 of the constitution to re-visit the trail.

The summary received from the Law Ministry said the Supreme Court had asked the attorney general "to inform thepresident... license of Babar Awan has temporarily been suspended, therefore it would be appropriate if anothercounsel is appointed".

23 May 2012Pak TribunePM Gilani can't be Disqualified in View of SC Order: AG IrfanISLAMABAD: Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir has opposed disqualification of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilaniin view of the Supreme Court's (SC) judgment in a contempt of court case against him.

According to sources, National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza sought the AG's opinion regarding the PM'sdisqualification in view of the court's April 26 order.

Irfan Qadir, submitting his written opinion to the speaker, said that she could not disqualify the PM in view of thecourt's order. It is to be noted that the AG has declared the court's order regarding the premier's conviction"unconstitutional because it was violation of several articles". He had stated that no contempt law existed in thecountry.

Earlier, Fehmida Mirza has also asked Prime Minister Gilani to file a response regarding his conviction in thecontempt of court case.

Sources said that Gilani would respond to the speaker with an official written reply by today (Wednesday).


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Under the constitution, the speaker is required to send a reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)within 30 days if she thinks the prime minister stands disqualified in light of the Supreme Court verdict.

Lawyers are not clear when the period of 30 days would end.

The government believes that this period would start once the Supreme Court has given its verdict on the appeal.

On the other hand, one section of lawyers say that the National Assembly speaker would reject the referencerelated to the PM's disqualification as she has authority to do so.

Law Minister Farooq Naek has already said that Fahmida Mirza could decide the future of Gilani.

Legal experts say that the article 63(2) gives this power to the speaker.

"If the speaker declares that the prime minister is qualified to hold his office, his conviction will be automaticallysuspended," an expert said.

In such an event, the constitution is silent on whether or not her ruling could be challenged in a court.

Lawyer Salman Akram Raja said that in case the speaker decided in favor of Gilani, her decision could bechallenged in the Supreme Court since there was no specific constitutional provision to deal with such aneventuality.

Raja added, in case the government files an appeal against the judgment, the speaker's office could hold thereference until disposal of the appeal.

The Islamabad High Court has already rejected an appeal, seeking disqualification of the PM in view of the SC's

detailed judgment.

Some lawyers said the ECP could not bypass the speaker and take up the case of PM's disqualification.

EDITORIALS(Top)

23 May 2012Daily TimesEDITORIAL: Prime Minister Erdogans VisitTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently on a visit to Pakistan, was invited for the second time toaddress a joint session of our parliament. The esteemed prime minister from one of Pakistans closest friendsstressed the importance of a continuation of democracy, which he said is also vital for regional peace. He hailed

Pakistans efforts to keep the ship of democracy afloat. A good part of Erdogans speech advised the opposition tomaintain a constructive approach while criticizing the government, and not seek its overthrow.

Erdogan quoted Turkey as an example that has earned political stability through justice, peace and economicdevelopment. He underscored the importance of economic stability that cannot be achieved unless political stabilityis maintained. Turkey and Pakistan share historical, religious, cultural and political values. Amongst the negativesthat are common to both countries is the tragic fact that we share the dubious distinction of having sent a primeminister to the gallows. We both carry the lingering shadows of a civil-military imbalance that has sent many electedgovernments packing. Unlike Turkey, however, Pakistan has been unable to get a government that could takereplicate Ankaras success in governance, democracy, and rolling back the overweening presence of the military.


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Penning different Memorandums of Understanding in the fields of solid waste management, investment,urbanization, transport and communications in the 14th Joint Ministerial Commission, Zafar Calayan, the TurkishMinister of Economics, indicated bureaucratic hurdles, high taxes and custom tariffs as impediments to increasingTurkish investment in Pakistan.

The bilateral trade between Turkey and Pakistan is around $ 1 billion that can go up by $ 2 billion provided theenvironment is made conducive by means of carefully charted economic and business policies with the political willto consistently adhere to these. The Rental Power Plant issue, which involves a Turkish plant, Karkey Karadeniz,could become a bone of contention unless Turkey is generous about the fact that it is the Supreme Court ratherthan the government that has cancelled all such projects on the grounds of non-transparency and allegedcorruption. It goes without saying that we need Turkish support badly, not the least because it is one of the fewcountries that demand little in return except our friendship.

Turkeys economic prosperity and constitutional stability has helped it carve a niche in the global arena, providing itthe strength to bargain on its own terms with the international political players. It was towards this strength thatChaudhry Nisar, the leader of the opposition, pointed during his address, when he asked Turkey to play its role inbridging the gap between the Muslims and the western world. While Pakistan is a long way away from achievingsimilar status, it does not behoove the leader of the opposition to air our internal political differences and conflictsbefore the distinguished guest from Turkey. It would appear from Mr. Erdogans remarks that the whiff of ourinternal political rift had reached Turkey long before Mr. Erdogan stepped onto Pakistani soil.

However, his advice should have been taken by the opposition as the sincere and caring views of a friend. Byfollowing it up with washing our dirty linen in his presence, the leader of the opposition failed to uphold the dignityand self-respect of the country. Mr. Erdogans Justice and Development Party, despite being Islamist in politicalorientation, has not disturbed traditional Turkish secularism, has successfully negotiated space for civiliansupremacy against the Turkish military (one coup-making general is on trial), and delivered on the economic anddiplomatic front. Now in his third successive term, the Turkish prime minister represents a role model for our

politicians to emulate. Essentially, the strength of the Turkish ruling party stems from its demonstrated ability todeliver to its people. That should be the leitmotif of our polity too.

23 May 2012Daily TimesSECOND EDITORIAL: PNS Mehran Siege and the Missing TruthIt seems unjust that the punishment by a court martial to three senior officers of the Mehran base should be aninsignificant demotion. At the very least, they deserved to be discharged. Three serving Navy officers, including thecommander of the base, Commodore Raja Tahir, have been convicted for their criminal negligence with regard tothe security arrangements at the sensitive base.

The attack on PNS Mehran base on May 22, 2011 is one of the worst incidents in the countrys and the Pakistan

Navys history. It lost 10 personnel during the 17-hour siege, plus two P3C Orion aircraft worth millions of dollars,which were set ablaze by the attackers. However, the greater loss to the Pakistan Navy was of its image. It failednot only in safeguarding its base but also in recovering it quickly and with minimum loss from a handful of terrorists.

The incident occurred despite the prior intelligence alert to the Navy, which had already suffered two attacks onthree of its buses only a month earlier in Karachi on April 26 and 28. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hadproudly claimed responsibility, terming it revenge for the martyrdom of Osama bin Laden. It still boggles the mindhow they entered a well cordoned off area and hit their targets inside the base successfully. The likelihood that theyreceived inside help from sympathizers within the Navy cannot be ruled out.


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The decision of the Navys Board of Investigation looks like a mere whitewash. It must consider the reality thatthere is more to it. Sheer negligence, a complete security failure and delayed response, and that too in anincompetent manner, leaves a great deal more to inquire into. The investigation should have pursued the matterdeeper to get to the bottom of how it had happened. This is crucial in order to identify the black sheep within andarrive at the truth. Its failure in doing so would reinforce the opinion of those who believe that journalist SaleemShahzad was murdered for exposing in his reports the secret negotiations between the Navy and al Qaedaregarding the release of four Navy officers suspected of al Qaeda links. The commission probing Shahzads murderalso fizzled out without any conclusion.

The sheer negligence of naval officials in these dangerous times that led to the embarrassing PNS Mehran siegecannot be covered up so easily. The country needs the names of the real traitors involved in the unforgiveableterror act. The investigation report deserves to be made public. And if the authorities think that the sentence ofmere demotion of the three officers is enough, then that itself is a serious cause for concern.

23 May 2012Daily TimesVIEW: Pakistans Afghan DilemmaS P Seth

Pakistans own contradictions and conflicts are so overwhelming that the state has no time to work out analternative strategy to save Pakistan.

Pakistans relations with the US and its allies seem to be on the mend with reports that the suspended NATOsupply route to Afghanistan might be reopened. The route was closed by Pakistan after 24 of its soldiers were killedlast November by the US forces on the Pakistan-Afghan border. Whether it will mean any real improvement in theirrelationship remains problematic because both remain hostage to developments in Afghanistan.

While the Hamid Karzai government might feel reassured about the US commitment to a post-2014 Afghanistanafter the US military withdrawal, following the strategic partnership between the two countries for ten years;Pakistan might not be all that happy. With the US involvement, of sorts, likely to continue, Pakistans capacity toshape developments to its strategic advantage will be severely constrained. Therefore, Afghanistan will remain adifficult issue affecting US-Pakistan relations for quite some time even after 2014.

It would appear that there is considerable confusion in the higher echelons of the Pakistan military about how bestto achieve their strategic objectives in Afghanistan. There is, of course, the clearly understood goal of creatingstrategic depth in Afghanistan under Pakistani influence. But to imagine that an independent Afghan regime,presumably run by the Taliban, will follow Pakistans strategic dictates is a wild assumption.

According to some reports, even at this point of time when the Taliban leadership is said to be sheltering in

Pakistan, the relationship between some of Pakistans top generals and the Taliban leaders in residence is quitetesty, bordering on deep distrust. It, therefore, does not bode well for Pakistans presumed confidence that theTaliban leadership, if and when in power again, will play Pakistans cards.

In a recent review article in the New York Review of Books on a bunch of books on Afghanistan, Anatol Lieven haswritten, sensible Pakistani [military officers] do not want the Taliban to conquer the whole of Afghanistan,because they would then be free to turn on Pakistan by giving their support to their Pashtun brothers who are inrevolt against Pakistan as part of the Pakistani Taliban


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Since Professor Lieven is considered an expert on Pakistan and Afghanistan (his latest book: Pakistan: A HardCountry), it is worth quoting him at some length. He writes: Just what the Pakistani security establishment is reallyaiming at [in Afghanistan] is extremely difficult to work out. Quite apart from the levels of opacity and deceit in whichPakistani policy is wrapped, the Pakistani state is weak and soft. Even in the military, the lines of command havebecome blurred.

Highlighting the role of the ISI in Afghan affairs, he comments, Indeed, so close is the identification of some ISIofficers with the Taliban that there is some doubt whether the Taliban is acting as Pakistans proxy or the ISI isacting as the Talibans proxy.

Such confusion of policy and implementation, when the state is soft and weak, portends danger for Pakistan. Andthe danger clearly is that Pakistan is becoming hostage to a set of assumptions that do not hang together. Theyneed a policy where the Taliban ceases to be its centerpiece, because it is actually weakening the foundations ofthe Pakistani state. The meteoric rise of the Pakistani Taliban (an offshoot of the Afghan Taliban), and the deadlyviolence it is inflicting on Pakistani society (with their fraternal linkages with other extremist and terrorist groups), isan existential threat for Pakistan.

Unless and until this realization dawns on the Pakistani state, particularly its military, Pakistan is likely to lurch fromone tragedy to another. In this context, whether their relation with the US is on the mend or not is immaterial.

Pakistans own contradictions and conflicts are so overwhelming that the state has no time to work out analternative strategy to save Pakistan. Let us face it; Pakistan is in danger of imploding from within.

In the midst of all this, some of the Afghans living in Australia were mulling over their countrys fate after the USwithdrawal in 2014 at a national TV forum here. Most of them were against the US withdrawal in 2014 for fear that itwould put in jeopardy the limited gains in education facilities for girls in the cities and other benefits of relativeopenness of Afghan society, at least in the cities.

There was also concern about Pakistans role as a safe haven for terrorists and extremists to destabilizeAfghanistan. And it was feared that the return of the Taliban, if it were to eventuate, would be disastrous forminorities such as the Hazaras.

The Afghan Diaspora generally shares these fears, many of whom fled Afghanistan to escape the countrysmayhem, and they fear the worst in terms of a possible civil war in the country and/or the return of the Taliban intopower in parts of the country. The Taliban are unlikely to be the sole political actor in the country, because they willbe resisted by the warlords in the north and by other ethnic groups like the Tajiks.

The Afghan Diaspora, therefore, by and large, favor the US troop presence beyond 2014, believing that this waswould somehow be tantamount to stability of sorts. In some way, though, foreign troops in Afghanistan are part ofthe problem, and not its solution.

However, there is one issue that is somehow skirted in all this talk of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in2014: what sort of political order is envisaged in the post-2014 period when the withdrawal of foreign troops wouldcoincide with the end of Karzais constitutional term as Afghanistans president? Karzai probably would like tocontinue. But that would be unconstitutional. This might be fixed, though, with a managed constitutionalamendment, followed by a managed/manipulated election. If that happens, it would further delegitimize the systemand the regime. And how would the US and its NATO allies respond to it? As it is, Karzai might appear to be theonly dependable ally for the US, notwithstanding his quirkiness and tendency to play all the cards at the same time.


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In other words, apart from the Taliban danger, there are other imponderables in the Afghan situation as well.Therefore, the post-2014 situation, following NATO withdrawal, could turn out to be even more messy and lethalthan what has happened so far.

And Pakistan will be in the middle of it all. It is imperative that it should work out a strategic vision and not go fortactical gains that have a habit of turning into greater disasters.

The writer is a senior journalist and academic based in Sydney, Australia. He can be reached [email protected]

23 May 2012Daily TimesA Few Words: The Youth BulgeDr. Qaisar Rashid

Generally speaking, it is not sure whether or not the youth bulge will help a political party win an election but it iscertain that the bulge is bound to brew social frustration.

For the past several months, so much importance has been laid on the youth that the bulge the youth bulge inthe middle of Pakistans demographic pyramid has grabbed the attention of every Pakistani. The youth bulge isindicative of a higher birth rate and a lower death rate. In 1947, Pakistans population was only 32.5 million.According to an estimate by the United Nations (UN), given Pakistans population growth rate of 2.2 percent (as itwas in 2008), by the year 2050 Pakistans population would be almost double (from the present 180 million toaround 335 million) of which 35 percent will be the youth (age 15-24 years). That is, by 2050, the number of youngpeople would be about 117 million.

Given the failure of population control measures in Pakistan, the youth bulge is now an undying phenomenon. Ahigher birth rate in the past is producing the existing youth bulge. The birth rate is still unrelenting, thereby meaningthat the middle portion of the population pyramid will keep on growing younger unless the rate of population growthis checked. History teaches us that manmade excesses are checked by nature. In the case of overpopulation,widespread disease and pervasive drought are the dynamics that can prune the bulge to arrest its expansion.

Presently, there are two schools of thought focusing on the youth bulge in Pakistan. The first school of thoughtraves about the youth bulge as a youth dividend for society. That is, society can harness the constructive benefitsof its human resource potential. Unfortunately, hardly can one find a policy (or a policy statement on) how the talentand energy of the youth be channelized to the advantage of society. Article 25-A of the Constitution, makingeducation compulsory, is a giant step forward but on paper only.

The second school of thought describes the youth bulge as a youth discontent of society. This school of thought

eyes the bulge to bring about a regime-change by instituting a sort of revolution. Both the All Pakistan MuslimLeague (APML) of General Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) of Imran Khan arepassionate supporters of this school. Other political parties are also slowly waking up to the youth-discontentreality.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has launched programs to lure the youth of Punjab. Politicians arejust focusing on political benefits that can be bequeathed to them by the youth bulge and consequently the pace ofstrife to capitalize on youths disgruntlement to achieve political objectives is escalating fast.


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Generally speaking, it is not certain whether or not the youth bulge will help a political party win an election but it iscertain that the bulge is bound to brew social frustration owing to comparatively dwindling economic resources, highconsumption and low savings. Nonetheless, the youth bulge is pregnant with further menace.

First, juvenile delinquency is becoming rampant. Adolescents (age range from 15 to 18 years) who violate the laware called juvenile delinquents. The delinquent behavior spans mugging, mobile snatching, and even murder. Thechoice of raising more than two children per family makes a family psychologically overburdened and a societyphysically overloaded. Neither does the family atmosphere tend to shape the personality of its new members in adesired acceptable way nor does society become able to put in place a proper social control mechanism on itsbursting numbers.

This is especially true for families rooted in the lower social stratum which is perceivably contributing more to theyouth bulge of society, where both formal and informal modes of socialization struggle to condition societalmembers to be conformists. That is how the responsibility to rein in the defiant fringes of society is shifted onto theshoulders of the state.

Second, the culture of the underworld is spreading its tentacles. The underworld is essentially an adult crimefranchise system ravaging urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Sialkot. Slums in cities are amajor recruiting area of the youth and a breeding ground for criminals. Inhabiting slums means an enhancedvulnerability to seek membership of an organized gang. Over the years, slums have expanded to accentuate the

gap between the haves and have-nots. Gang wars erupt to take control over certain economic resources calledbhatta (extorted money). Just a few days ago, Lyari in Karachi witnessed a confrontation between entrenchedgangsters and the Sindh police.

Third, a jail generation is taking birth. The state asserts a formal control through punishment and reward.Punishment takes precedence over reward and an offender ends up in jail. Availability of ample chances to venture

into the world of crime makes one a jailbird. Further, there are children who are born to mothers spending their livesbehind bars. These children are later raised by the streets. For that generation, owing to paucity of opportunities forrehabilitation, besides a lack of technical skills to earn their livelihood, it is easier to lapse into the world of crime.Resultantly, in the form of the jail generation, Pakistani society is inadvertently producing professional outlaws leftwith no choice but to commit crimes. Nevertheless, the jails are also groaning under the burden of the youth bulge.

Fourth, militant Islam is spawning. Militant Islam is using violent means by Muslims to achieve political goals. Theyouth, especially belonging to the lower social class secure admission to the religious seminaries (owing to theabsence of any other choice) to seek education, obtain shelter and acquire food under one roof all boarding andlodging free of cost. Impressionable young minds, low self-esteem, and seclusion from society are ingredients of aperfect recipe for getting indoctrinated and becoming suicide bombers.

In short, politicians are ready to profit from the youth discontent to their own advantage. Conversely, youth, which is

an asset of society, is fast becoming a liability. Appropriate measures need be taken to transform the youthdiscontent of society into a youth dividend. In controlling population and enhancing education lie the solutions.

The writer is a freelance columnist and can be reached at [email protected]

23 May 2012Daily TimesThinking Aloud: No Trivial MatterRazi Azmi


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One can measure the level of social development and civic consciousness of any society by the attitude of itsmembers to public hygiene.

Karachi will have 200 paid public toilets in the next few months, we are told. To the extent that this promise will turninto reality, millions of people of Karachi will heave a sigh of relief. No luxury, the humble toilet. Answering the callof nature is no laughing matter!

I suppose that one can measure the level of social development and civic consciousness of any society by theattitude of its members to public hygiene and their willingness to stand in a queue where required.

We like to keep our homes neat and clean but habitually dump garbage out on streets and in parks. Who amongstus does not occasionally feel the need to answer the call of nature when outdoors, yet we do not build public toilets.Men urinate overtly and defecate covertly. Women cope somehow, only they know how. By contrast, westernersconsider the provision and proper maintenance of public toilets in all public spaces just as important as buildingroads, parks and playgrounds.

In the 1980s and early 1990s I travelled by bus from Islamabad to Gilgit (18 hours), Karachi to Islamabad (28hours), Quetta to Karachi (12 hours), Madras to Bangalore (10 hours) and Bangalore to Bombay (25 hours). Morerecently, I took the inter-city bus in Bangladesh as well. There were no public toilets anywhere along the way, noteven one, not in Pakistan, not in India and not in Bangladesh.

About two years ago, on the way to a spectacular tourist resort high in the Tien Shan mountains about 100kilometers from Urumchi in western China, our bus stopped at a rest area with a few shops and public toilets. Theshops were doing brisk business, but the toilets had neither water, nor toilet paper, nor soap. Human feces laystrewn amid pools of urine. But, thankfully, at the end of the journey, the resort itself had very fine public toilets.

In India, some parts of large cities resemble open-air toilets and urinals, even in cities so popular with tourists as

Mumbai, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi. In Agra, the sound of a train approaching an overhead crossing sendseveryone on the road below darting back, lest they be showered over by human excrement and urine droppingstraight down from the trains toilets.

Looking out the window from any early morning train approaching or departing New Delhi, one can see, on eitherside, between the train and the shanty dwellings, rows of men answering the call of nature. Barely ten meters fromthe train, they present a very unsavory sight, leave alone the hygiene. In terms of squalor and disregard for publichygiene, India is easily the worlds superpower.

It is something of a consolation to know that even Europeans are relatively recent converts to public hygiene.Dustbin is called la poubelle in French after one Eugene-Rene Poubelle who, as a city administrator, introduceddustbins on the streets of Paris in the late 19th century. Initially, he earned the publics ire, not gratitude, for histroubles. Parisians consigned his name, quite literally, to the dustbin!

While Asians are generally averse to standing in a queue, in the west, people join queues as naturally as they walkthe streets. In the former Soviet Union, however, queues were in a class by themselves. They are best describedby Hedrick Smith in his book, The Russians (1974), as having a dimension of their own, a different concept fromanywhere else.

Though a mighty superpower in the 1970s, the Soviet Union perennially suffered from shortages of everythingexcept armaments, of which it was a great exporter. Being the best provisioned city, Moscow attracted shoppersfrom the regions and small towns, where shortages were even more acute. In big stores, one queued three times,


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once for viewing to select the item and get a voucher from the sales-girl, then to pay at the cashier and get thevoucher stamped as paid, and finally to queue again to take delivery of the purchased item.

One often queued even without knowing what it was that one wanted to buy or what it was that was on sale. Thelonger the queue, the greater the urge to join it, for logically the object of a long queue ought to be a high valuetarget, to use a terminology now popular with the American strategists. The length of the queue had to be directlyproportional to the scarcity of the merchandise on sale! It could meander from the ground floor, up the stairs, to theupper floor.

Having joined a queue, one would wait just long enough for a few more people to join the queue, after which oneexchanged a few pleasantries with the person behind, sufficient to leave a visual impression of oneself on the otherperson, then disappear after saying, I will be back shortly. One would then walk to another queue and similarlysecure ones place there. As a result, queues tended to be rather elastic; they would shrink and expand. One wouldtake a step forward, only to be pushed one step back, for while some people would leave from the front of thequeue after being served, others would reclaim their place in the middle.

Having invested so much time in a queue, one would be foolish to return empty-handed. So, if the shoes or jeanson sale were not the right size, one would buy a pair or two anyway, for they were sure to fit some relative or friend.News of some good import available in a particular store would result in a quick dash in that direction, before it ranout.

Fresh fruits and vegetables were the scarcest of all. Bananas, oranges, grapes, peaches and apricots were asscant in Soviet Russia as they are in the Sahara. Thank heavens for the apples, potatoes, carrots and cabbages.Pathetically malnourished they looked, but they nourished millions. At least they were mostly available, most of thetime.

Watermelons occasionally made a brief appearance in Moscow during summer,

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