NEWS

• Afghanistan’s foreign ministry has urged India to complete its unfinished development projects in Afghanistan while India has established diplomatic relations with the Afghan Taliban government. According to a statement, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that India should work on other important projects. Indian Foreign Minister Subramaniam Jaishankar said in a statement that a team of diplomats without the ambassador visited Kabul to address issues related to humanitarian assistance, including the vaccine campaign.   (Jang)

• Jamaat-e-Islami Amir, Siraj-ul-Haq, has contacted Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan Maulana Shakib by telephone and conveyed greetings on the completion of one year of Taliban rule. He is sure that peace and prosperity will come to Afghanistan because now the future of Afghan people is in the hands of their true representatives. The western powers who had wreaked havoc in Afghanistan for 20 years must help to restore Afghanistan’s infrastructure. He emphasized that the international community including Pakistan and especially the Islamic countries should recognize Kabul regime. He asked foreign powers to stop interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. (Jasarat)

• On the completion of one year of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, Victory Day was celebrated with a public holiday. State television aired special programs. Messages were broadcast reiterating Afghanistan’s commitment to peace, stability and prosperity. Taliban Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said their new government has improved the security situation in the first phase and is now moving towards peace, stability and prosperity. (Jasarat)

• Pakistan has signed a Letter of Intent to the IMF, after which the chances of getting an installment of USD 1.17 billion have become clear. The Finance Secretary signed the Letter which will be sent to the IMF.  The Executive Board of the meeting will take a decision when it meets most probably on August 24.  Sources said Saudi Arabia has decided to extend its USD 3 billion safe deposit with Pakistan till December 2023. Ministry of Finance said  3% interest will be paid on the deposit; Pakistan will have to return the money immediately if there is a risk of default, sources said. (Jasarat)

• Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders were prevented from meeting Imran Khan’s Chief of Staff Shahbaz Gul in Adiala Jail. Amir Dogar, Ali Nawaz Awan, Umar Ayub Khan and Raja Khurram Nawaz were part of the delegation that went to meet him. Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Umar Ayub Khan said that the jail administration did not allow Shahbaz Gul to meet him. He added that we fear that Shahbaz Gul has been tortured. (Jang)

• PTI leader Fawad Chaudhary said that everybody knows what Shahbaz Gull had said on TV. He was arrested because being an overseas Pakistani he is weak. He said that Shahbaz Gill was tortured before and now the government wants to torture him again.  Torture of anybody cannot be allowed. The Party is united in support of Shahbaz Gill. (Ausaf Daily)

• Qabaili Awami Party (Tribal People Party) Chief Azam Khan Mehsud said that tribal people of FATA are not getting justice even after the area’s merger with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed that not a single promise made to tribal people was fulfilled. He alleged that tribal people were pushed to the walls by conspiracies against them. (Aeen)

• Awami National Party (ANP) Harnai District President Asghar Achakzai said that the administration in Balochistan is paralyzed. All the controls are in the hands of Army and FC. He alleged that forces are gravely violating the constitution. (Qudrat)

• Balochistan National Party Central Leader and Member of the Balochistan Assembly Sanaullah Baloch said unless the reservations of Baloch people are addressed the problem of Balochistan would not be resolved. He added that we had informed the Chinese Emissary of our concerns with regard to CPEC. He added that people of the province are facing injustice and the human rights situation in the province is appalling. (Qudrat)    

• Chief of Balochistan Jamaat e Islami Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi has criticised the use of force against innocent people at Harnai-Khost. Many people were injured in the incident. The security forces in the past also opened fire on unarmed people in Turbat and other places. What type of peace do the security forces want to establish in the province? The attitude of the forces is anti-people. The use of brute force by security forces is shattering the peace in the province. It is a matter of grave concern. Killing innocent people in the name of operation against saboteurs is an indication of the failure of the security forces. It will worsen the law-and-order situation further. (Intekhab Daily)

• Nawaz Sharif is returning home next month (September), federal minister, Mian Javed Latif said. He added Sharif will be accorded top class welcome. Addressing a press conference, Latif aid: “Imran Khan alone is not the culprit. Saqib Nissar is his partner in the crime.” He asked why foreign companies gave donations to Imran Khan and his party? How funds meant for (Imran Khan’s) hospital got diverted to PTI accounts? Despite the election commission’s reports (in foreign funding case), one section is calling for celebrations. Those who brought Imran Khan perhaps are still in no mood to take any lessons. He went on to say, “We will not allow Nawaz Sharif’s arrest.” (Sindh Exp.)  

• Punjab Police had taken back the security provided to the Sharif family. The Home Department has issued orders to withdraw the security cover. According to the details, the police force was deployed for security outside the houses of the Sharif family at Jati Umra and Model Town. The police security is provided only to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Provincial Home Minister Hashim Dogar has said that police are providing security only to those houses which were declared by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The opposition is complaining that the security of the Sharif family is withdrawn without a valid reason. (Ausaf Daily)

• Federal Minister for Environment Sherry Rahman has said that by 2025 Pakistan will become a victim of drought. Addressing a conference on the effects of environmental changes on agriculture, she said that we are facing a water shortage. She said that our plans for dam construction remain incomplete even after 10 to 15 years. We don’t have enough resources and time for the construction of big dams. We should change the priority of our plans and in view of our resources start constructing small dams. (Intekhab Daily)

• PML-N members of the Punjab Assembly are unhappy with the performance of their party in the province. They believe that after the defeat in Punjab by-polls the party has become indecisive. It is confused about its future action. They are also unhappy because nobody is held responsible for the debacle of the party in Punjab by-polls. Former Chief Minister of Punjab and party leader in Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shahbaz is in London. In his absence, a meeting of the parliamentary party cannot be called. (Islam Daily)

• Peshawar Police have arrested 9 suspects by cracking down on drug dealers in Hayatabad, inner city and suburbs. They are involved in supplying ice and hashish.  More than 15 kg of hashish and one kg of ice were recovered from them. (Urdu Point)

• People of Togh area in Kohat have protested against the illegal load shedding of electricity and gas. Led by past and present local Government representatives and social workers, protestors closed Pindi Road for all kinds of traffic. (Daily Pakistan)

• Acting Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Aamir Farooq heard the PTI petition against the EC ruling in the prohibited Funding case, and referred the case to a larger bench.    Advocate Anwar Mansoor appeared on behalf of PTI.   (Daily Express, Daily Jinnah, Ummat)

• 3 persons including Tehsil Nazam Khar Haji Syed Badshah were injured in a bomb blast in the Chinaran area of Salarzai Tehsil of Bajaur, according to the Police. The explosion happened near the vehicle of Tehsil In-charge.   (Daily Jinnah, Daily Express)

• Pakistan Muslim League (N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has refused to support the latest government’s decision to hike petrol prices.  In a tweet she said “I stand with the people. I cannot support this decision”.  Maryam Nawaz added that Nawaz Sharif also strongly opposed the new hike. (Ummat, Daily Express, Daily Jinnah)

EDITORIALS

• Jamaat-e-Islami (Karachi) Ameer, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman, has said that the reconstruction of Karachi is necessary to make Pakistan a developed country. At the flag hoisting ceremony at Noor-e-Haq on August 14, he said no ruler has done anything for Karachi. He said PPP has been ruling the province for the past 13 years and the entire infrastructure of the city – roads, parks, streets, lighting system, and sewage system, have been destroyed. (Edit Jasarat)

• Currently, the Ministry of Petroleum is under the Prime Minister himself. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited and Pakistan Petroleum Limited are public sector entities but their production is continuously declining. Among the reasons for this appears to be corruption. Both institutions lack permanent heads. OGDCL has been run by an Acting Managing Director for a year whose interests are allegedly linked to another institution, while the Deputy Managing Director of Pakistan Petroleum Limited has been running for more or less three and a half years. (Edit Jang)

• Social media is spreading hatred and immorality in Gilgit-Baltistan. Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid has now given instructions for stern action against the wrongdoers to maintain peace and harmony in the region. It is extremely important to control social media to save the society from going haywire.  (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

• PM Shahbaz in his I-day address said if Pakistan could become a nuclear power, why it could not become an economic power, and called for national dialogue on ways to discard the begging bowl before world. It is time to ask politicians to keep differences aside, and work for the country. Hopefully, by the time the IMF instalment is received, the rupee will be back to the position it enjoyed at the end of PTI rule. We can make our currency stable only when all parties sit together on the charter of economy. We hope the government will take serious measures to bring all parties on one platform. (Ibrat, Edit, Daily Pakistan, Jasarat)  

• The expectation of getting early the IMF instalment and the assurance of friendly countries are having positive effect on the economy. Three weeks back the dollar was costing 240 rupees but now it has come down to 214 rupees. The Stock Market is also looking up. But this loan-based improvement is only temporary. For a stable economy, we need a solid base instead of loans. For that, we need to develop the industrial sector. We have examples of many countries in this region which had fewer resources than us and were far behind but by developing their industrial sector they are moving ahead rapidly while we still need loans from the IMF to protect our economy and obey all the orders of the IMF to get the loan. (Edit-Dunya Daily, Jinnah Pakistan, Naibaat)  

• For the past few days, the presence of extremist groups in some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has caused considerable concern. Administration and civil circles believe that suspects are from the mountainous regions of Afghanistan; they are fleeing to hideouts on this side of the border after three TTP key leaders were killed in a landmine explosion.   Hence There is a need to not only tighten the surveillance on the Pak-Afghan border, but also to monitor every person coming and going. (Daily Pakistan Edit)

• When people are celebrating 75^th Independence Day of Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government is showing no interest to join the celebrations.   Why? There are no ready answers, and it difficult to understand the KPK logic. (Naibaat Edit)

COLUMNS

• The establishment believes in the policy of “State first, politics later”. Musharaf used to put it in another way: Pakistan above all. The establishment believes that the country’s economy is in doldrums because political parties are fighting one another. They (parties) do not see eye to eye and this has led to political instability and ultimately culminated in economic crisis. This is the reason why the establishment is laying emphasis time and again on parties to sink differences and come together. The government is ready but now that pressure is being put on Imran Khan; he also seems to be calming down and slowly giving up his arrogance. (Sindh Exp, Aijaz Mungi) 

• The arrest of Shahbaz Gill (PTI leader and confidante of Imran Khan) has caused little dent in PTI popularity. The faces of major PTI leaders tell a tale about the party being no longer as confident as it was till some time back.  PTI is no longer speaking about early polls or dissolution of the provincial assemblies.   (Pahenji, Sikandar G. Soomro, Aug.`14)    

• Indications are that some new political equation is on the way and that is the reason Imran Khan seems to be ready for one more big U-turn. He is waiting for some “nod” from certain quarters. Even the President has entered the country’s political arena offering to play the role of a bridge between PTI chief (Imran Khan) and the Shehbaz government. He is the same President who had earlier rejected all the matters sent to him for signature on Punjab related issues. Imran Khan now seems ready for talks with those whom he used to refer to as “chor” and robbers. Change in PTI attitudes can also be seen as symbolic of party leadership having got little jittery these days. It also needs to be noted here that these days issues are not being settled at Pindi but more in Lahore which has become hub of political activities. Now that both Imran Khan and the President seem to be sending out signals for compromise, it only speaks for the fact that the PTI does not want to take any risks any longer. Recent changes in core commanders’ posting, including one from Peshawar to Bahawalpur, is also seen as part of a changing political scenario. This is also seen as one of reasons for PTI leadership going on the backfoot. PTI has started realizing that their support base is thinning.   PTI’s campaign against institutions has started causing a split within the party. It is only after sensing that tough times are ahead for the party, Imran Khan has brought President Alvi, in open for a “patch-up” between government and PTI. To the question if all this will help PTI, the answer seems to be “NO” in the present scenario. This time institutions were directly targeted and establishment knows it very well as to who is behind all that is happening on social media. If we have to assess the extent of anger and displeasure within the establishment one should take cue from the President not being able to attend funeral prayers for military men who had died in the recent helicopter crash in Balochistan. Some in the establishment want pardon for Shahbaz Gill, but the majority view in the establishment is for action against him. It is also likely that more arrests will be made in times to come. These days a lot of political activities seem to be taking place in London as well. Decisions based on discussions in these London meetings are soon to be announced, be it about early polls or be it about “extension” (of Gen Bajwa, the army chief). The stakeholders seem to be in the mood for tough political decisions but not for tough decisions on the economy front. Imran Khan has one point agenda, namely early polls. But, even if polls are to be held early, the ballot will be after November.  Like Imran Khan is restless to get two third majority in elections, Nawaz Sharif is also impatient to return and have his cases withdrawn. He is waiting for safe passage to the country; what will happen if polls are held before time and if foreign funding case goes against PTI and its chief, Imran Khan? Whatever might have been discussed and decided in London meetings, it does not seem to be in favor of PTI. There are possibilities that even government term might get extended, but all that seems to be connected with issue of “extension”, in army chief’s term. (Kawish, Khadim M. Aug.14)    

• After PTI leader Shahbaz Gill was arrested for speaking against the army, Imran Khan and his support base feel increasingly isolated. PTI has engaged an American firm for lobbying in the US.  PTI is paying 25,000 dollars monthly for this job. All this means the party is isolated not just within but also abroad. The way none in the party seems to be meeting Shahbaz Gul after his arrest sends out a clear message that others in the party are worried about their own political future. This indicates hard days ahead for party ahead. Imran Khan, who used to be highly critical of the institutions and explosive in his language (against institutions) has suddenly turned much more “civilized” in his utterances. Shahbaz Gill’s case seems to be more damaging for the party than foreign funding case. In fact, the foreign funding case has been sidelined for time being. Imran Khan looks heading for bleak times if he fails to prove that he was not aware of the explosive material allegedly stored in Shahbaz Gill’s mobile phone. (Kawish, Mohamad Khan Aabroo, Aug.14)    

• Some people say Nawaz Sharif and army chief had a meeting in London and ML (N) leader, will soon return home for a fight with Imran Khan.  On his part, the PTI supremo has decided to shift his political activities from Islamabad to Lahore. This change is warranted because Imran fears crackdowns on his Bani Gala in Islamabad.  Zardari has started working on dislodging the Pervez Elahi government in Punjab. The moment the Punjab government takes any action against Rana Sannaullah, Zardari can get a go ahead signal against the Punjab government. If Pervez Elahi starts working on plans of Imran Khan’s wife and if cases are filed   against Rana Sannallah, Mariam Nawaz and other ML (N) leaders on treason charges, then Bani Gala will not be safe; it too can be raided in such an eventuality. In that case, Imran Khan will have to change his political base, and, there will be a serious threat to the Punjab government. Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain is a big trump card with the establishment because the election commission too has accepted Shujaat Chaudhary as PML(Q) chief. There are reports that cases are likely to be filed against Mariam in Lahore for speeches against the army. The Model Town case is being reopened against Rana Sannallah. If anything happens to Rana Sannallah, like if he is arrested, it can lead to serious fallout. Provincial governments are not powerful enough to take on the federal government. Political analysts dismiss reports of a meeting between Nawaz Sharif and the army chief in the UK as figments of imagination.  The meeting between the army chief and Nawaz Sharif could have taken place at the most through mediators, they aver. It is very likely that a message might have been sent to Nawaz Sharif that his daughter is safe and that she will not be arrested. However, if conditions deteriorate, Nawaz Sharif can return, with or without an anticipatory bail. Good thing in favor of Nawaz Sharif today is that federal government is ruled by ML (N)-led alliance, which facilitate his return. Indications are that Nawaz Sharif might return by October or November. By that time the picture will also be clearer with regards to early polls. Now that Imran Khan is out of power, he has no say, be it in parliament or even in senate. The economy has started looking up. It can get still better in the next couple of months which inter-alia means there can be no better time for Nawaz Sharif’s return. (Sindh Exp, Allah Bux Rathod, Aug.15)    

• Taking all developments into consideration and going by the past experiences, it does not look likely that PTI will be banned. At the worst, Imran Khan can be disqualified and made weaker just as was done to Nawaz Sharif. Imran Khan might get pardon through courts but he no longer will remain PTI chief. Other seniors in PTI like Shah Mahmood Quereshi or Akbar S Babbar or some other trusted leader might be given the task of heading the party. On other hand, sensing threat to his very political survival, Imran Khan has started political meetings across the country including the Sindh. But this time he is not targeting institutions in his speeches but PDM and others. Clearly Imran is keen to re-establish ties with the establishment and indeed return to the establishment’s good books.  (Sindh Exp. Zahid Ali Bhutto, Aug.15)      

• Imran Khan must be thanking his political opponents/PDM government for making him a hero in today’s politics.  PDM leaders made a big mistake of taking over power from him when his popularity was on the wane. His grand show on the night of August 14 was a moment of discomfort for PDM government because stadium was not just packed but also the audience looked madly in love with Imran Khan. If   Imran Khan   returns to power with a big mandate this time, it will be not because of his skills or expertise but because of the failure of his political opponents to read the growing disenchantment with the PTI rule. (Pahenji, Aijaz Mungi, Aug.15)