EDITORIALS:

1. We strongly believe that this is time for politicians to keep their egos aside and think and work together for country’s good. We need not change government or rulers, as is being suggested by our President because ultimately it is these major parties who have been ruling country; the only thing needed is change in rulers’ attitudes and egos. The rulers also need to change their priorities whereby we can have stable political environment, which can help us get rid of all the crises taking toll of country in varied ways. (Kawish Edit, July 25)
2. Till some time back, Sindh was grappling with water deficit. Today, because of heavy rains, almost entire Sindh is under waters. Hence, Sindh government and other relief and rescue agencies should expedite their operations so that people can be protected from material losses and also from starvation. The farmers have suffered a lot.  Sindh government and agriculture department should extend them every kind of financial aid to minimize their losses. (Edits – Pahenji Akhbar, Sindh Express, Daily Pakistan)
3. Recession has gripped the whole world and a strong economic power like America is also under severe pressure. But in Pakistan, apart from international factors, political instability and uncertainty have  made the country’s economy worse. In such a situation, very encouraging is the statement of Acting Governor of State Bank of Pakistan, Dr. Murtaza Syed, that the direction of our economy is correct. We have averted the dangers by taking timely measures. There are no worries. People should not listen to negative reviews and rumors. Pakistan is not Sri Lanka, it is among the countries that have an IMF program; such countries are safe. (Edit Jang)
4. The case of the Deputy Speaker’s controversial ruling during the election of Punjab’s Chief Minister is being heard in the Supreme Court which rejected the demand of the ruling party for a full bench hearing. This political case of Punjab has come at a time when there was a need to pay full attention to the falling economy instead of boosting the egos of the political leaders. Every day the value of the dollar is rising by two or three rupees. The main reason for this is the political uncertainty which is increasing daily for the last three months. The dollar’s value was 187 rupees on the 26^th of April but by the 25^th of July it increased to 230 rupees. The uncertainty of politics has stopped international financial agencies from releasing funds. The peril of default is looming over the country. In the rows of the politicians, not a single person is visible who is thinking about the nation instead of his politics. The situation is very dismal. (Edit-Dunya Daily)
5. Security forces conducted two successful operations in North Waziristan in the last few days. According to ISPR, in the first operation, the most dangerous and wanted terrorist commander was arrested along with his three associates, while in the second operation, three terrorists were killed. All the arrested and killed terrorists belong to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group. For some time now, there has been a significant increase in the activities of terrorist and miscreant groups in Pakistan. Terrorist groups are particularly active in Balochistan and the former FATA. Pakistan’s security forces are conducting intelligence-based operations against such elements. The geographical position of Pakistan is such that it has a long border with India in the east and a long border with Afghanistan in the northwest. Pakistan also shares border with China and Iran. For Pakistan, while there have been problems on the eastern border since the beginning, there have also been problems with Afghanistan in the northwest. Pakistan has been fighting a war against terrorism for two to three decades. A National Action Plan was approved in 2014 with the consensus of all stakeholders to eliminate terrorism and its facilitators. After eight years, the question that stares at us is what are the obstacles to end terrorism? Why are there no measures to get rid of factors that promote terrorism or with the help of which terrorists grow and thrive. It is very important to eliminate the links between terrorists. For this purpose, it has been recommended in the National Action Plan that terrorists cannot achieve their nefarious goals through the internet and social media. The National Action Plan recommends measures to ensure the early repatriation of Afghan refugees but there is no serious effort in this regard. As Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan border Afghanistan, terrorists and criminal gangs are more active here. This operation against terrorism can be made effective and fruitful by promoting cooperation and collaboration between security agencies of the country so that the people of Pakistan breathe in an atmosphere of happiness and peace, and may the journey of national development and prosperity continue. (Edit Daily Express)

NEWS

6. PTI leader, Fayaz-ul-Hasan Chauhan claims Asif Ali Zardari is in Dubai now. There is one important Pakistani personality also in Dubai these days. Attempts are being made to convince Zardari for early and immediate polls. Fayyaz also said it looks Zardari would be wooed for early polls. On other hand, PTI also wants early and immediate polls. PDM government in Islamabad however is of the view that government should be allowed to complete its term till late next year.   (Sindh Express, Islam Daily)
7. Social media is busy with posts wondering at Zardari’s presence in Dubai when political conditions are very grave in the country.  Zardari’s daughter, who lives in Dubai responded saying he was going to celebrate the first birthday of his grandson. He was to visit Dubai last month but he had to defer visit to Dubai due to health reasons. Her post went on to say: “Why will he (Zardari) run out of the country when he did not do any such thing during 11 years when he was hounded? Zardari has faced courts; He faced dictators but never ran away”. (Sindh Express)
8. The 249th Corps Commanders Conference was held at GHQ Rawalpindi on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, has made a comprehensive review of the security situation, paying special attention to border and internal security, according to ISPR. The conference. The Army Chief appreciated the formations’ efforts in relief operations to alleviate the challenges of people affected by floods and heavy rains in the country. The forum reiterated the commitment of the armed forces to extend full support to the civil administration in rescue and rehabilitation activities. (Jasarat)
9. 3 people were killed in two separate incidents of target killing in North Waziristan. Two persons were killed in the firing by unknown persons in Mir Ali Bazar, while the body of a person named Fayaz was recovered from Khushali area. According to officials, Fayaz was abducted from Mir Ali Bazar by unknown persons a few days ago. It should be noted that two people were killed in the firing by unknown persons in the Mir Ali sub-division of North Waziristan a day ago. Dharna is being staged for two weeks against target killing in North Waziristan. Local elders, civil society, workers of political parties are participating in the sit-in. (Jasarat)
10. The Supreme Court has rejected the MQM request to postpone local elections in Sindh. A two-member bench headed by the Chief Justice heard the case. (Khabrain)
11. As many as 141 schools have been closed in the merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Most of them are girls’ schools, and have been ‘inactive’, according to the information provided to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly by the Education Department.  The report said that some schools were closed due to the zero-enrollment rate; buildings have been constructed for most schools. Furniture was not provided and staff was not appointed. (Khabrain)
12. PTI leader Fawad Chaudhary has said that Hamza Shahbaz should have resigned on the same day we had won the Punjab by-polls. Talking with the media outside  the Supreme Court he regretted that the hearing  was not live. He said that Mariam Nawaz and co can’t accept the verdict of the people because they believe in rigging. They can never win by fair means. (Islam Daily)
13. Chairman of the National Democratic Movement and Member of National Assembly Mohsin Dawar participated in the dharna of the relatives and friends of those killed in Ziarat in a fake encounter. Declaring his solidarity with them he said that the colonial government had permitted its agencies to silence the voice of protest and dissent. The agencies were allowed to stop the persons demanding their rights and to spread terror by kidnapping them and then killing them in fake encounters.  Targeted killing is going on in Waziristan and other parts of Balochistan. He said this killing of innocent persons is not possible without the assent of the government. (Intekhab Daily)
14. Afghan Qaumi Movement Chief Sadar Ahmad Khan said that the young Pashtu generation should expedite the struggle for ‘United Pashtunistan’ and Pashtun Nationalists leadership should save the Pashtu community from the problems they are facing. He blamed weak and self-centric Pashtu leadership for the problems faced today by the Pashtu community. (Qudrat)
15. Teachers of community schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have staged a dharna in front of the Provincial Assembly demanding that they be made permanent. And indicated that the dharna will be expanded if their demands are not accepted. The demonstration was led by All Basic Education Community Schools Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Mazahir Irfani and other officials. (Urdu Point)
16. The land link between Sindh and Balochistan was severed due to the collapse of a bridge in the Lasbela district of Balochistan. Surging waters in the Linda River in Uthal Tehsil eroded the approach roads on both sides of the bridge. The Quetta-Karachi highway is closed at various points Release of water from the Hub Dam spillway has washed away nine bridges,  destroyed nine highways over a distance of 500 km and damaged  3500 houses, according to officials. (Daily Express, Ummat, Nawai Waqt, Daily Jinnah)
17. Chairman Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Hafiz Naeem ur Rahman demanded roll back of sales tax on traders.  He said Jamaat-e-Islami fully supports the stand of traders that traders will not pay electricity bills unless sales tax is separated from electricity bills.   (Ummat, Daily Jinnah, Nawai Waqt)

COLUMNS

18. People are dying in rains, people are losing their homes in rains, peoples’ life, their livelihood have come to standstill in rains; whatever system existed before rains. Because there was choking up of all natural outlets and gutters, water accumulated everywhere, and water entered homes. Whom to approach for justice? It is time courts   make bureaucrats accountable for rain havoc with peoples’ lives time.  (Sindh Express, Aijaz Mungi)
19. Forty years ago, Pakistani passports were as good as passports of any advanced country. Conditions are too bad on this front today. Out of 199 countries, visits can be made only to three countries without a prior visa. On other hand, this facility of visit without prior visa is open for 61 countries with Indian passports and for 41 countries with Bangladeshi passport. The only countries placed below Pakistan are Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. There are 10 countries where Pakistanis can pay visa-free visits and these 10 countries include countries like Qatar, Belarus, Haiti, and few other small countries. Will any Pakistani like to visit any of these 10 countries for sight-seeing, for jobs, for education, except for Qatar? There are 65 countries whose citizens get a visa on arrival in Pakistan, but we have not been able to convince these 65 countries to give similar on arrival  visa facilities to Pakistanis. (Sindh Express, Waseehatullah Khan)
20. Though PML-N took over power in Islamabad with help of other parties in PDM, it has lost its stronghold in Punjab. The crisis that befell the country in the aftermath of the no-trust move against the Imran Khan government in March/April, continues till day. Though PTI in the meantime improved its tally in Punjab assembly, Chaudhary’s letter emerged as game-changer giving a new and unexpected turn to Punjab political game. One can talk about some reason with only those who understand reason and arguments based on reasoning. Sadly, we are in midst of those who instead of healing our old “wounds” keep adding to them. (Kawish, Latif Jamal, July 25)
21. According to political analysts, the major reason for Imran Khan and his party getting good results in Punjab bye polls is he has been constantly in touch with people instead of sitting at home after getting dethroned in a no-trust vote. Apart from that, he has all along been critical of the government, election commission and also of establishment. Imran Khan’s such narratives against government and institutions have endeared him and made him popular amongst masses and hence good show in recent Punjab bye polls. If he wants, he can sit at home. He knows people will not allow him to sit at home now and hence he will not rest till he is successful in his mission. (Pahenji Akhbar, Gulam Hyder Khokhar, July 25)
22. When American President Joe Biden visited Saudi Arabia, he declared in plain words that he cannot leave the Middle East at the mercy of Russia and China. In response, the leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran met, and gave a message that they will not accept the economic and political supremacy of America in Asia. They sounded the alarm for America by talking about ending the global monopoly of the dollar. If the word “South Asia” is replaced by the word “Middle East” in what Joe Biden said about the Middle East, then the many crises and storms going on in South Asia can be correctly assessed. In such a situation, many “coincidence” events are taking place in the Middle East and South Asia. One such coincidence is that three Indian planes have malfunctioned and landed at Karachi’s Quaid-e-Azam International Airport in recent days. The general story is that all the planes were forced to land due to technical problems or lack of fuel. New planes from India arrived and took the passengers to the next destination. Is it a strange coincidence that in a short period of time, three planes suffered from technical problems and the problems were such that it was necessary to land them on the soil of Pakistan. These are the days when Pakistan and India have closed airspace for each other’s aircraft. It has come to light from many quarters that the landing of planes is being used for money laundering. Amjad Shoaib, a well-known retired general of the Pakistani army, has revealed in his vlog that funds are being transferred out of Pakistan through Indian planes and this is an alarm bell for Pakistan’s economy in the coming days.   General Amjad Shoaib’s accusation has not been denied by any side; nor is there any clear explanation for the landing of Indian planes in Pakistan. (Arif Bahar, Jasarat)
23. If today the world is not ready to trust us, then we can’t blame anyone because only we are responsible for it. Don’t deceive yourself by blaming others. Blaming others for our mistakes and negligence has become an obsolete technique. We are tired of hearing that such a country is interfering in our matters and the other country does not want us that we should progress. The matter is clear only we are responsible for what we are suffering today. It is a bitter fact that by our wrongdoings we have lost the trust of the world. With responsible for the political uncertainty in the country? The national economy is on the ventilator but political leaders are not ready to sit together to find a solution. They don’t have any policy or vision. They think that the world can’t see the facts and analyze them. It will believe our statements. We are just deceiving ourselves. (Dunya-Suhail Ahmed Qaisar) ######