Editorials:

1. Intestine –related ailment is spreading in a village near Daharki. Already more than 100 people are affected. The ailment has not spared children even. The authorities must wake up and rush medical help to the village. Simultaneously, the government must mount an investigation into the causes of the disorder, and take swift measures to arrest its spread. (Sindh Express Edit)

2. Finance Minister Miftah Ismael has said that the restoration of the IMF program will bring economic stability to the country. A boost in hydel power, a decrease in demand for energy and a fall in the cost of oil will help to improve the economy in the coming months. It may be a welcome statement but the realities belie it. We need stable bases for a stable economy but all the reasons mentioned by FM are not constant but variables. He is totally dependent on the IMF package, ignoring the fact that it is a relief, not a solution. At present oil prices are falling at the international level, but the situation can change any moment. To increase our foreign exchange reserves we have to increase our exports. Instead of that, the government has lifted the ban on the import of luxury items and thus increased forex outgo. (Edit-Dunya Daily)

3. Jamaat-e-Islami Amir, Siraj-ul-Haq, has demanded that seats should be reserved for overseas Pakistanis in Parliament adding that overseas Pakistanis should be represented by their elected representatives. For the past 30 years, every government has been asking for votes and ‘notes’ from overseas Pakistanis and promising to give them the right to vote abroad and send their representatives to parliament. Yet, no party whether it is PML-N, PPP or PTI has resolved the issue. Before the elections, the issue is talked about animatedly, promises are held out, and after the poll day, the issue is sent to the backburner. Sirajul Haque pointed out another problem that the properties of overseas Pakistanis are being seized in Pakistan. They keep knocking on different doors but get no response. These Pakistanis send billions of dollars to Pakistan annually and they are great support to the economy. Nowadays, Pakistanis are losing their jobs in many countries. Embassies and Missions should pay attention to this problem. (Edit Jasarat)

4. Shahbaz Gill, a close aide of PTI supremo, has been detained. It is alleged by the PTI leaders that people in civil dress broke the window of Shehbaz Gill’s car and arrested him. His driver was also allegedly tortured and his clothes were torn off. However, in the ‘arrest’ video, it can be clearly seen that Gill’s driver did not get out of the car and that he had sped from the spot after Gill’s arrest. PTI leaders have tried to distort facts and spread a lie. The question is Why.    When PTI leader Shireen Mazari was arrested some time ago also, claims were made that she was tortured, and that she was arrested by male policemen. When the video of her arrest surfaced, these claims were proved false. It would have been better if Imran Khan had also announced his distancing from Shahbaz Gill’s view on the army. Imran should discourage ideas that incite people against the state and state institutions. A perception is gaining ground that Tehreek-e-Insaaf is unable to understand the fine line between state and politics. (Edits – Daily Pakistan, Nai Baat)

5. Political leaders should not criticize national institutions.  More so since the Amy Chief has intervened with the US, Saudi Arabia and UAE to facilitate the IMF bailout.   (Jehan Pakistan Edit)

6. After al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a US drone strike, and TTP commander Umar Khalid Khorasani was eliminated along with two associates in Paktika province, spectre of terrorism has again raised its head in Pakistan. Last month Pakistani officials held talks with TTP top brass, and this resulted in a temporary ceasefire. Yet, TTP terrorists are crossing into Pakistan from their hideouts in Afghanistan for striking at will and return. On Monday, four soldiers were martyred as a result of an attack on their vehicle in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan. Regional peace and security will not be guaranteed until the hideouts of these terrorists are completely wiped out and their facilitators are killed. To achieve this goal, the Kabul government will have to provide full support. It is the moral responsibility of the Taliban government to never allow its land to be used for sabotage against Pakistan. We believe that with the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri and Umar Khalid Khorasani, terrorists   had suffered a severe blow and the path to peace has been paved. (Edit Nawai Waqt)

NEWS:

7. Former federal interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed has said planning to break up PTI or arresting Imran Khan will be the beginning of bloody politics. In a social media post, he said that on this sensitive subject he would hold a press conference on 12^th August   and will address a public meeting on 13^th August from Lal Haveli. He said that the security of the country is more important than politics and power. The instability in Afghanistan will also affect Pakistan. He said that the economic crisis, political instability and the beginning of ransoms and terrorism will bury the politics of PDM. (Ausaf)

8. At a time when the threat of default is looming over the country, our politicians are busy in their personal fights. The cries of the people carrying the burden of inflation are being killed by the false slogans of the beauty of democracy and the right of the opposition. At this junction Asif Ali Zardari, an important player in the victory of the PDM is absent. It was Zardari, who had made Shahbaz Sharif the Prime Minister of Pakistan and his son Hamza Sharif the Chief Minister of Punjab. According to reports he had secretly gone to Dubai. His departure was so secret that even the persons and reporters close to him were unaware of it. Even it is not certain whether he had gone to Dubai or some other place. Nobody knows on what secret mission he had gone abroad at such a critical time when his presence was needed in the country. But one thing is sure and it is something very important and secret. (Ausaf)

9. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Imam Memon has said that Imran Khan is fooling people in the name of war and Jihad. He said that Imran Khan is talking about war and Jihad to gratify his lust for power. We were talking from day one that the agenda of Imran Khan and his gang is against Pakistan. Sharjeel said that Imran Khan and his gang members are day and night busy in dirty conspiracies against the institutions of the country. Imran Khan is acting senselessly and indecently to protect himself from the ramifications of the prohibited funding case. What Shahbaz Gill had said on the TV was said at the behest of Imran Khan. Otherwise, he would not have dared to say so. (Intekhab Daily)

10. The relatives and friends of the missing people who were killed in fake encounters in Ziarat are sitting on a dharna in front of the ‘Governor House’ for the last 20 days. Voice for Missing Baloch Persons, Baloch National Party, Baloch Yakjehti Committee and other organizations have joined the protests. But till today the government has not accepted their demands. (Intekhab Daily)
11. Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said that Imran Khan, Tehreek-e-Insaaf, and he himself are with the forces of Pakistan and will not allow anyone to gain political goals by defaming the name of the army. In a statement, he said that the Pakistan Army is “the guarantor of border security and is our pride”. Propaganda against the army can only be indulged in by enemies of the country. He said that whoever speaks against the army should be declared an enemy of Pakistan and Islam. (Daily Express, Daily Jinnah, Nawai Waqt)

12. The Election Commission has summoned Imran Khan in the prohibited funding case on 23^rd August to answer its show cause notice. In the case filed by PTI founder – member, Akbar S Babar eight years ago, EC found that the funds were collected for the PTI by illegal means.   The EC has asked why these funds cannot be confiscated. In the show cause notice issued to the chairman of PTI, the EC has particularly mentioned the sum of 21 lakh dollars received from Arif Naqvi and 13,750 dollars received from Indian citizen Romita Sethi. (Dunya Daily)
13. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said threat from Taliban is increasing though talks are being held with them. There is tension on both sides of the border. The situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is worsening. Imran Khan’s government had welcomed the Tehreek e Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Taliban is not a problem for KP only, but it is problem for the entire nation. Member of the National Assembly Mohsin Dawar said that the Taliban are getting control over many parts of the KP. He said “whenever I tried to talk about the Taliban my mike is switched off.” (Dunya Daily)

14. Chief of Jamaat e Islami Siraj Ul Haq has said that the rulers are busy looting the country everywhere and in every possible way. People are fed up with the politics of mafia. Now is the time to hold them accountable. Addressing a rally of party workers near Lahore, he said those who had targeted the country with their political and economic terrorism should now think of their fate. The coalition PDM government has badly rattled the people within a few months. Unemployment, inflation and load shedding are increasing. Interest-based economy and corruption are the roots of the problems. The rulers have pushed the country into the slavery of the IMF. Instead of increasing taxes on the already crushed people, the privileges of the elite, leaders, members of the parliament and assemblies, and bureaucrats should be curtailed. He said that all the three big parties are badly exposed. People should support Jamaat e Islami in making the nation an Islamic welfare state. (Dunya Daily)

15. The revelations from mobile phone data of PTI leader Shahbaz Gul are enough to register a sedition case against him. According to the sources, the entire script written against Pakistan and domestic institutions has been exposed in the initial investigation itself. Imran Khan’s orders, instructions to the party leaders and the owners of a channel were obtained. Apart from this, important members of PTI political committee do not agree with Shahbaz Gul’s narrative and that is why Asad Qaiser, Shah Mehmood and Faisal Vawda did not attend the political committee meeting, while Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi openly said that we are with Pakistan Army and Tehreek-e-Insaf should isolate itself from Shahbaz Gul. (Jasarat)

16. The head of Sunni Tehreek, Muhammad Sarwat Ijaz Qadri has said that the entire nation is with the Pakistan Army. The sacrifices of the army, police, rangers and civil society martyrs will not go in vain. The operation against the anti-national terrorists should be accelerated. Qadri expressed these views while strongly condemning the suicide attack on the convoy of the Pakistan Army in North Waziristan and the explosion in Khuzdar district of Balochistan. Qadri demanded that terrorists must be encircled legally, politically and socially. (Jasarat)

17. It has been almost a year since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan and cracks have started to appear in their ranks on the issue of reforms. According to a German media report, it is unlikely that the Taliban will ever feel the need to change their policies. Ibrahim Bahs, an Afghanistan expert at the International Crisis Group, said that there is a faction in the Afghan Taliban that is continuing efforts to continue, what he calls the reform process. On the other hand, there is a faction, which thinks that even the minor reforms done so far are actually too much. It is certain that Afghan assets cannot be made available to Kabul unless the current Taliban government gives clear signs of progress. Abdul Hadi Hammad, a member of the advisory council of Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and the head of an Islamic Madrasa, said that all the decisions that Akhundzada has made so far were based on the advice given by religious leaders. According to Western analysts, for the Afghan Taliban to decide on any change, the conditions created by the political and economic crises are not as important as the concern that it is not a threat to their ideology. (Jang)

18. Despite the passage of several days, the flood victims of Balochistan have not received any relief money, nor has the administration estimated the loss. No safe shelters have been arranged for many victims. (Urdu Point)
19. The process of creating fake domicile in Balochistan continues. According to sources, the domicile certificate of the officer attached to 100% promotion quota in the Workers Welfare Board has turned out to be fake. The said officer had first made a domicile in Durg area of Musakhel district, after which he obtained a domicile in Quetta. He was recruited in 2011 on a post with 100% promotion quota, against which several letters were written to the secretary by the organization of the department. (Urdu Point)

20. The Islamabad High Court issued notices to the Election Commission on PTI writ petition seeking to stop nine by-elections. Acting Chief Justice Aamir Farooq heard the case. PTI demanded that the Election Commission should the resignations of all its lawmakers together instead of piecemeal acceptance. (Daily Express, Nawai Waqt, Ummat)

21. One person was killed five people, including a woman, were injured in a blast at Azadi Chowk in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan.  It should be noted that a few days ago, unknown persons attacked a stall selling national flag in Quetta with a hand grenade, as a result of which one person was killed and 14 injured. (Daily Express, Daily Jinnah, Ummat)

22. According to reports, militants attacked FC check post at Jamrud Godar with hand grenades around mid-night.  In the ensuing heavy and indiscriminate firing, five security personnel were injured. The militants escaped by taking advantage of darkness of the night.  Political and social circles expressed concern over the bad situation of law and order. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. (Nawai Waqt, Ummat, Daily Jinnah, Daily Express)

Columns:

23. Most killers in Sindh seem to be above law.  The killers of Nazim Jokhyo, who was killed a few months ago for resisting Arab revelers hunting a rare breed deer, are still making merry at Zardari House, Islamabad. Jokhyo’s wife fought the case with courage and took help of advocates but ultimately, she got tired and exhausted because of some of her very close relatives betraying her.  Ultimately, she had no alternative but to pardon PPP activists who had killed her husband. The police case became weak because her brother-in –law joined hands with police and feudals. No human rights activist felt pain of Jokhyo’s wife. Earlier, we had leaders right from Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi to Rasool Palejo who dedicated their lives in the fight to throw out feudal and elite class from Sindh. (Sindh Express, Dastgir Bhati)

24. Election Commission in the prohibited funding case of the PTI has declared many persons and organizations as foreigners. Many of them are protesting on social media and some of them have even sent notices to the EC to apologize for calling them foreigners. The EC has said that its decision was based on the data provided by the NADRA. If it is true then a new problem is created. Who had tempered with the data of NADRA? Was it done purposely to damage a particular political party? (Dunya Daily-Munir Ahmed Baloch)

25. PTI leader Shehbaz Gill has been remanded to police custody for two-days. Shehbaz still does not know when, where, and how to speak. He used to talk inappropriately and unprofessionally like a comic artist all the time. Seriousness and responsibility have nothing to do with him; while making personal attacks and insulting politicians and journalists, he and the likes of him forget that such language regarding state institutions is not acceptable. People also dislike such a diatribe. A mistake made by PTI is the belief that everyone is ignoring the ground realities. After the no-trust movement, they kept trying to give the impression that institutions may also against the PTI. When things are carried out in a wrong manner, the result will be wrong. Due to this strategy, political and economic stability has been undermined, and chaos has spread. A good political party should not be held hostage by a few idiots. In the larger interest of the country, PTI must revise its policy. A step back will have to be taken and this work has to be done not only by PTI but also by the government. The path of conflict must be avoided and the path of reconciliation must be adopted. (Akram Choudhary – Nawai Waqt)