A selection of news and views from May 12 Urdu dailies of Pakistan.

EDITORIALS

1. Political situation in Gilgit-Baltistan has become fluid. The tide is not in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which is the ruling party. The Opposition parties are determined to unseat Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid through a no-confidence which is likely to be tabled in the legislative assembly anytime now. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
2. Nawaz Sharif has called the top brass of the Pakistan Muslim League- N to London for a close huddle. Former finance minister Ishaq Dar and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are already there. It is speculated that the meeting has much to do with economic woes of the country.  The IMF has cancelled the visit of its officials to Pakistan on the 10^th of May without giving any reason. It has convened the next meeting in Doha. The IMF is reportedly insisting on ending subsidies even before the Federal Budget is presented. There is also a talk that the PML-N leaders are going to discuss about early elections. The Shehbaz Sharif government is neither confirming nor denying these reports. Nawaz would not have summoned the London huddle without a valid reason. Hence the speculation that something important is brewing. (Edit-Intekhab Daily)
3. Every police department has anti-narcotic cell but the sale and use of narcotics, intoxicants and drugs is taking place from villages to cities under the patronage of influential people in our society. This addiction is spreading like a cancer amongst our youth. It is time to set up more and more deaddiction centres to treat the addicted youth both physically and psychologically and to make them medically fit for playing positive roles in society. Deaddiction drive can also help to control the crime rate. (Ibrat Edit)

NEWS

• Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid said that his government is ready to create Economic Zones at Maqpun Das, Sosat, Skardu and Chilas under the China Pakistan Economic Cooperation (CPEC). (Baad-e-Shimal)

• Traders and trade unions have protested against the federal government’s decision to ban entry of Gilgit-Baltistan traders into Khunjerab and offloading goods coming from China at Khunjerab Top. Addressing a news conference, leaders of Pak-China Trade Unions and GB trade bodies demanded a roll back of the government decision. “Otherwise, we would be forced to make our protests more louder, they said adding the entry ban is a conspiracy to push the Gilgit-Baltistan trades to the wall. (Daily K2)

• Nawaz Sharif will be addressing an important press conference in London today. Prime Minister Shehbaz and his cabinet ministers are also expected to be present at the presser.   Nawaz is expected to unfold a roadmap on issues that range from next elections to economic strategies and price controls. It is learnt that the PML N patriarch will elaborate on the reasons for ouster of Imran Khan’s PTI government. (Ibrat)

COLUMNS

• Due to low water levels in the Indus and resultant water shortage, water in Dadu, Meher, Juhi and other parts of Sindh has turned toxic. Gastroenteritis is assuming epidemic form every year, and is claiming hundreds of lives. Almost 80 per cent of people in the Sindh   survive on agriculture. Now this water crisis has ruined agriculture.   As per international laws as also according to religious scholars’ fatwa, only Sindh has right over Indus. Sindh must get this right. (by Amir Ansari in Ibrat)

• Even before taking over the reins of the country, Shehbaz Sharif   would have been aware that there would be no smooth sailing for him but he would not have foreseen the gravity and grimness of conditions he is face-to-face now. as he must be experiencing now that he is in midst of them/conditions. Realizing the poor state of the economy, he rushed to Saudi and UAE to solicit their help. And felt relieved with their assurances. Conditions are far from ideal on other fronts and it is no easy task setting them right. For example, prices and inflation are rising. Petrol subsidy is also an issue. The government is yet undecided on withdrawing the subsidy. Mystery continues to shroud CPEC works. Power cuts remain unabated. For Shehbaz Sharif to run the government for the next one and half years in this atmosphere is going to be a big challenge.  More so as the PTI is trying to exploit the situation to its advantage. How things will unfold is difficult to crystal gaze. If political and constitutional crisis keeps rising, as they are surely look set, it would not take long to witness in Pakistan a repeat of what is happening in Sri Lanka and even in Afghanistan. (By Ali Zahid in Kawish, May 11)

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