Memogate: SC verdict on maintainability today

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) is expected to announce verdict today on the admissibility of the petitions filed in the much-debated Memogate scandal case Friday, Geo News reported.

A nine-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, Justice Tariq Pervez, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Muhammad Athar Saeed heard the case and adjourned the hearing of the case.

Asma Jehangir, counsel of Husain Haqqani sought dismissal of the petitions with heavy fine because these were filed by important people and added, "it is not a forum to probe the issue as the said matter is political and is causing tension between civil and military relationship".

Asma made it clear that petitioners should have to establish violation of fundamental rights but not on the basis of hypothesis or in the air. Such things must be proved for invoking article 184 (3) of the Constitution and these petitions should be dismissed by the court if the petitioners fail to prove.

Justice Mian Saqib Nisar raising question to Asma said that "you (Asma) should interpret Article 9, 14 and 19-A to show that the petitioners' claim about violation of fundamental rights is wrong. Similarly, the petitioners should also have to prove that fundamental rights were violated under these Articles of the Constitution."

Barrister Zafarullah, another petitioner in the case and Dr Tariq Asad presented their arguments on maintainability of the petitions under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution.

Advocate Rashid A Rizvi, counsel of Nawaz Sharif will present arguments in the case by exercising his right of reply on Friday.

Senator Ishaq Dar who is also member of the National Security Committee of the Parliament which is probing memo issue, will also exercise his right of reply on Friday.

During proceedings, Asma contented, "my client (Haqqani) is a patriotic Pakistani and never met Ijaz Mansoor during past two and half years." She termed the memo as figment of imagination of an American citizen.

Asma apprised the bench that former US National Security Advisor General James Jones declared the memo as unreliable.

The chief justice questioned then why he (James) forwarded it. Moreover, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani also held the memo as a reality.

Asma said his client has no objection to investigations at any forum, adding a commission could be formed for the probe into memo issue but it should be with a right of appeal in the apex court.

Law allows SC to hear any case: Chief Justice

Islamabad: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry further said that parliament is important institution of state. He said certain news about assemblies’ failure are wrongly attributed to the court in the media. The CJP further said the court had only declared that the parliamentary committee cannot conduct investigations.
The President is head of state and this regard is respectable to us, the CJP added.
Asma Jehangir, counsel for accused Hussain Haqqani, contended that court’s jurisdiction to take up matters of public importance couldn’t be applicable to political issues.
Justice Shakirullah Jan said the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction is not confined to matters of public interest.
Asma said the court should not consider the big names of the applicants and instead tread as per the law.
The CJP said Army Chief should be respected because them people give toil and blood to the country. Asma said those who give blood are others, they (the general) only enjoy rule. She said we are indebted to Jawans (army soldiers) for their sacrifices.
She said tomorrow someone, invoking public interest and national defence, may approach court to bring into question the decision that are taken at Corps Commanders meetings.
The Chief Justice said the law doesn’t permit keeping anything secret. He also said that the petitioners have not sought action against Hussain Haqqani; they have only sought an inquiry into the matter.
Asma said that invoking national security to trample on rights is American practice. Pakistan doesn’t have any such doctrine, she added. The CJP said that court didn’t validate dictator’s unconstitutional and undemocratic steps. He said the court doesn’t have any application in which impeachment of the President is sought.
The nine-member bench of the Supreme Court is hearing the memogate case.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had asked how the court should interpret president’s silence on memo case.
It may be pertinent to mention here that the President Asif Ali Zardari had not submitted his answer to the court as yet on memo, as required by the apex court.
Husain Haqqani’s Attorney Asma Jahangir said the things are being driven to president’s impeachment. The nine-member bench heard the memo case headed by the chief justice of Pakistan. There ensued an interesting exchange of words between Asma Jahangir and the court during the course of the hearing.
She also referred to one of Habib Jalib’s couplet during the hearing. She said Hussain Haqqani has informed the president about his decision to resign in his letter. The court asked did Haqqani made his decision to resign on November 16?
The CJP asked Asma Jahangir to trust the court. Asma Jahangir said in her reply she did trust her husband but could not surrender her rights to him.
Justice Jawad S Khwaja said the citizens have right to information under the article 19.

Pakistan rejects US report on Salala attacks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected the joint US-Nato report on the attack on a Pakistani check post on Nov 26, military sources told DawnNews on Wednesday.

According to the sources, the US-led report was ‘not based on facts’, and that it can not be unbiased as long as the probe was headed by Brigadier General Stephen Clark.
US officials said Tuesday that the American military has briefed Pakistan’s army chief on its investigation into US air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border last month.
Pentagon spokesman Captain John Kirby told reporters that a report by military investigators was delivered to General Ashfaq Kayani on Sunday by a US officer based in Islamabad, who explained the findings to the general.
The full report from the joint US-Nato investigative team was not released publicly until Monday to allow time for the Pakistani leadership to read the findings first, Kirby said.
“We wanted General Kayani to be able to see the entire thing,” he said, calling the approach “an appropriate professional courtesy” to Kayani.
But a Pakistani security official told AFP “no such briefing took place and the report was not handed over in person to the army chief”.
“The report was delivered to the concerned department (of army headquarters) but not to the chief,” the official said.
Pakistan has yet to give a detailed public response to the report, but officials have expressed irritation that elements were initially leaked to American newspapers last week.

What is the truth behind Benazir Bhutto's assassination: Report

Why are Pakistan's current rulers, given their affinity to Benazir Bhutto, "quite so reluctant to uncover the truth" about her assassination, asked a Pakistani daily, noting, "The uncertainty that persists is unsettling".

The former prime minister was assassinated Dec 27, 2007, after a Pakistan Peoples Party rally in Rawalpindi, just two weeks before the scheduled parliamentary elections of 2008.

An editorial in the News International Tuesday said: "Her (Benazir's) death changed our history; it may have changed our destiny and is perhaps one reason at least for the pitfalls we have stumbled into. Perhaps Benazir could have prevented some of this."

"But speculation about what could have been serves very little purpose and does not help us today."

It said that the country has to live with the facts - and "some of these are extremely disturbing".

"For one, it is a true irony that even with Bhutto's own PPP in government, even with her husband ( Asif Ali Zardari) occupying the presidency and her son (Bilawal) heading the party his grandfather founded, we are no closer than before to solving the riddle of Benazir's murder," the editorial said.

"Indeed we seem further away and need to question why this is the case."

The editorial went on to say that a commission the government set up to look into the murder has submitted a report which the PPP top brass has decided to keep a secret.

"Essentially we stand rooted at the same spot where we were in 2007. Fingers point in many directions; there is no real evidence to suggest which version is the most accurate.

"As is also true of so much else in our history, we may never learn the truth."

Describing it as a "disturbing thought", the editorial said it raises all kinds of doubts in our minds, and "perhaps the most striking among these is why our current set of rulers, given their affinity to Benazir, should be quite so reluctant to uncover the truth and place it before the people."

"The uncertainty that persists is unsettling. A woman of as much sagacity and courage as Benazir deserved better."

Kayani, Pasha will stay on: Gilani

slamabad: Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and the country's spy head General Shuja Pasha are not being removed, said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in an attempt to scotch rumours that they were being sacked.
Gilani on Monday rejected as "absurd" the impression and rumours that the government had any intention to remove General Kayani or General Pasha.
"There are rumours that the government probably wants to remove them (Kayani, Pasha). This is absurd. Some opportunist are presenting this theory before the nation, which is wrong," Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Gilani as saying.
 he prime minister said it was on his request that General Kayani and General Pasha were given extension.
"I am happy with him," Gilani remarked in reference to General Kayani.
The country witnessed heightened tension between the government and the Army after Gilani on Thursday said, "Nobody can say that he is not under the government." He added that conspiracies were being hatched to "pack up an elected government".
General Kayani, however, dispelled speculations of a military takeover and assured the nation that the Army will support the democratic process in the country.

Imran Khan: Pakistan's saviour?

"I now present you the man who will save Pakistan."

That's how cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan was introduced to a crowd of more than 100,000 of his supporters on Sunday.

The rally in Karachi, Pakistan's largest and most diverse city, was a crucial test of the vitality of Khan's recent popular surge.

But the crowds poured in and the energy was infectious.

"Imran Khan is the only hope that we have right now," said 28-year-old Shohaid Siddqui as he proudly waved a flag in support of Khan's party, Tehreek-e-Insaf (or Movement for Justice).

Frost Over the World - Imran Khan:

Pakistan's next leader?

His friend, 23-year-old Mohammed Omar added: "We need revolutionary change, and that change will come in the form of Imran Khan."

This hunger for change was echoed by others at the rally including average Pakistanis who have become disillusioned by successive governments that have sunk their country deeper into conflict.

"Our Pakistan is dying. Now, we want someone to come into power and give our country support and do something for Pakistan. This is a new change. Maybe out of this we will get something," said 52-year-old Musarat Jumani.

Khan, who first gained fame after leading his country to win the cricket World Cup in 1992, called his campaign a "good tsunami that will destroy injustice and corruption".

He promises to eliminate all major government corruption within 90 days of taking office.

In a country where the current Prime Minister Asif Ali Zardari has been marred by corruption allegations and is famously referred to as "Mr 10-per cent", Khan's anti-corruption stance has won him support.

He has vowed to turn Pakistan into a "Muslim welfare state", where citizens would get free and equal access to education and healthcare. In speaking about what this might look like, he cited examples of welfare systems in the United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries.

Khan has also tapped into anger about Islamabad’s relationship with Washington. He has publicly, and vocally, come out against US drone strikes in Pakistan and called for an end to the country’s dependence on American aid money.

But not everyone agrees that Khan is the answer to the country's ills.

"People have come out here for all the song and dance, for a good time. Yes, he's done that. But do you think all these people really know what he stands for?" wondered one Pakistani.

Saadi Agha, who attended the rally but does not support Khan, says his ideology is "stale".

"It does not offer any new structural changes in Pakistan," Agha says.

But he acknowledges that Khan has re-energised the populace.

"What he's done is revived a dead scene; the masses have come out. If this continues, it's good. I don't think I can remember a rally like this ever happening in Karachi before."

In a city beset by political and ethnic violence, the festival-like atmosphere at the rally was in itself significant.

On October 30, Khan staged a similar rally in his home city of Lahore - that gathering also attracted more than 100,000 people, another historic turnout.

But popularity doesn't always translate into political power.

The majority of Pakistan's voters live in rural areas, dominated by feudal systems that prescribe political loyalty.

So far, this tremendous outpouring of support has only been seen in major urban areas like Karachi and Lahore.

Also, Khan is yet to present a concrete plan of how his party would govern if in power. He has promised to release those details in the coming days.

Additionally, though Khan has been active in the country's political scene for 15 years, the Tehreek-e-Insaf party has only briefly held one seat in parliament.

Whether or not Imran Khan is the man who will "save Pakistan" is yet to be seen. Analysts say that if he is able to keep this momentum going he will become a major political player.

But what is becoming more apparent is that the country is ripe for change.

Pakistanis want someone to get them off their sinking ship.

CIA suspends drone strikes in Pakistan: report

LOS ANGELES - The US Central Intelligence Agency has suspended drone missile strikes on gatherings of low-ranking militants in Pakistan due to tensions with the country, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Citing unnamed current and former US officials, the newspaper said late Friday the undeclared halt in CIA attacks is aimed at reversing a sharp erosion of trust between the two countries.
US-Pakistani relations deteriorated last month after a series of US air strikes killed 24 Pakistan soldiers near the border with Afghanistan.
A joint US-NATO investigation concluded that a disastrous spate of errors and botched communications led to the deaths. Pakistan has rejected the findings.
The pause in the missile strikes comes amid an intensifying debate in the administration of President Barack Obama over the future of the CIA's covert drone war in Pakistan, the paper said.
The CIA has killed dozens of Al-Qaeda operatives and hundreds of low-ranking fighters there since the first Predator strike in 2004, but the programme has infuriated many Pakistanis, the report noted.
Some officials in the State Department and the National Security Council say many of the airstrikes are counterproductive, The Times said.
They argue that rank-and-file militants are easy to replace, and that Pakistani claims of civilian casualties, which the United States dispute, have destabilised the government of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Some US intelligence officials are urging the CIA to cut back the paramilitary role it has assumed since the September 11, 2001, attacks to refocus on espionage, the paper pointed out.
They suggest handing the mission to the Pentagon's Joint Special Operations Command, which flies its own drones and conducts secret counter-terrorism operations in Yemen and Somalia, The Times noted.

‘Tsunami’ intensifies: PTI bags Hashmi, eyes more bigwigs

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:  The surging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s latest show of strength, in Karachi today, will be performed on the back of an aggressive bagging spree, which has seen it woo politicians from across the political spectrum.

For political observers caught off-guard by former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Javed Hashmi switching ships to PTI on Saturday, more surprises may be in store, not just from PML-N, but also from PML-Quaid (PML-Q), and the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
With Hashmi on the PTI bandwagon, the PML-N has lost at least one more MNA – his daughter, Memona Hashmi. Other politicians likely to follow suit, sources say, include, Tehmina Daultana, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Rohail Asghar and Raja Nadir Pervez. Most troubling for the PML-N is the possible defection of one of their only Sindh stalwarts – Ghouse Ali Shah.
The expected defections have pushed the PML-N leadership into action; sources say the party has started approaching lawmakers, 12 in all, who are likely to defect to the PTI.
The party’s negotiating team has managed to hold them back for now, but may not be able to retain them for long, sources added.
Key among possible defectors, they say, is Saad Rafique.
Rafique, who has the support of several national and provincial lawmakers, purportedly sent Hashmi to PTI first to carve a ‘good position’ for him.  He would jump ship closer to the next elections, sources add.
PML-N’s deputy general secretary Ahsan Iqbal, however, ruled out Rafique joining the PTI.
Imran had already approached Rafique but he refused, Iqbal said. He hoped that more PML-N members would not defect but added, cautiously, that there could be no certainty in politics.
The other party likely to lose most from PTI’s rise is the already-fragmented PML-Q.
Sources name Liaquat Jatoi, Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Ghouse Buksh Mehar from Sindh, and former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali from Balochistan, as possible defectors.
Meanwhile, the party’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa president Amir Muqam is said to be uncomfortable with the Chaudhrys of Gujraat. Sources in PML-Q ruled out his immediate switching over, but said he would definitely abandon the Chaudhrys’ camp if they continued their coalition with the PPP.
The ruling PPP, which has already lost one of its heavyweights – Shah Mehmood Qureshi – Is likely to suffer at the hands of PTI in its stronghold Sindh.
A dissent group of PPP leaders from Sindh, including Muzaffar Ali Shah, the Talpurs and a prominent Makhdoom of Sindh, are expected to join the party in the coming days, PTI sources said.
Following Hashmi’s departure, PML-N president Nawaz Sharif has decided to immediately complete the provincial reorganisation of the party and has set a two-week deadline for the task.
The party had completed election to its central office slots but had postponed the provincial elections due to internal differences.
Meanwhile, the PML-N has nominated former mayor of Multan, Sheikh Tariq Rashid, as Hashmi’s contender in NA 149, sources added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2011.

Pakistani Print Media Brief Today

Saturday, December 24, 2011

President:                                      

Ø  Leaders of coalition parties Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhary Pervez Ilahi, Asfandyar Wali and Munir Khan Orakzai separately called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency; discussed current political situation and coalition matters. (Majority of papers)

Ø  President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani jointly chaired PPP Core- Committee meeting; committee resolved that all national institutions must work within their limits; fully backed Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in upholding the supremacy of parliament; reiterated its unwavering commitment to the principals of parliamentary sovereignty, constitutionalism and rule of law, saying the party and the government would up hold these principals under all circumstances. (Majority of papers)

Prime Minister:

Ø  Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani while speaking at a banquet hosted in honour of the visiting State Councilor of China Dai Bingguo at the PM House said, Pakistan-China comprehensive cooperation and robust partnership was in the fundamental interest of their peoples and conducive to peace, progress and stability of Asia; there is a complete convergence of views of our two countries on the global and regional issues and a commonality of approach to advance the international agenda for peace and prosperity. (Majority of papers)

Ø  Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in an exclusive interview with Newsweek Pakistan said, days of army coups are over; army has not always been pro-democracy but they are since I have been in power; military is part of government; Hussain Haqqani could not continue as Ambassador because he became too controversial. (News)

Ø  Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has summoned Cabinet meeting in Karachi on December 25. (News, others)

Parliament:

Ø  Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet directed the PTA to ask mobile phone operators to improve the quality of their service. (News)

Government:

Ø  Pakistan and China signed six bilateral agreements worth $ 700 million including a currency swap agreement to further bolster existing trade and economic corporation. (Majority of papers)

Ø  FTO will probe Rs. 150 trillion corruption cases. (News)

Ø  Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh has announced the merger of Federal Bureau of Statistics, the Population Census Organization and the Agriculture Census Organization to create one “Pakistan Bureau of Statistics” organization. (Majority of papers)

Ø  US Ambassador Cameron Munter called on Interior Minister Rehman Malik; discussed matters of mutual interest. (Majority of papers)

Ø  Interior Minister Rehman Malik asks NADRA to assist ECP in preparation of voter lists. (Nation)

Ø  Federal Directorate of Education has decided to launch O and A level classes in schools and collages of the federal capital in phases. (Dawn)

Ø  BISP Chairperson Farzana Raja said, demand for early polls is a violation of people’s mandate; government will win wars against poverty, terrorism. (Nation, Daily Times)

Ø  Government is set to award a Rs. 2.8 billion contract to Philips Electrical Industries of Pakistan for procurement of 20 million Energy Savers from China for free distribution among poor consumers as a measure to conserve electricity. (Dawn)

Political:

Ø  PTI Chief Imran Khan said, Zardari-Gilani regime seems to have started implementing the provisions of the dreaded Mike Mullen Memo; expressed his utter shock on Prime Minister Gilani’s statement with regard to Osama bin Laden; Karachi specially needs change because a hand full of people had divided the city. (News, others)

Ø  PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif said, “Jin” of Army, ISI intervention needs to be bottled; demands early elections after senate polls; calls for charter on Army’s role. (Majority of papers)

Ø  Senior Vice-President PML-N Makhdoom Javed Hashmi expected to join PTI; refuses to meet Nawaz Sharif. (Majority of papers)

Ø  MQM Chief Altaf Hussain has welcomed COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani’s statement to support democracy; said, only MQM can defend country with Army’s support; orders MQM MPs to move NA for creation of Seraiki province; advises President Zardari to avoid confrontation. (Majority of papers)

Ø  JI Deputy Ameer Sirajul Haq has called for early election; opposed any extra-constitutional step for change in government. (Majority of papers)

Ø  JPJMH Chairman Danyal Aziz said, recent report of SBP indicates that the government has failed to control the economic condition of the country and Pakistan may face a serious crisis in near future. (News)

Ø  PPP-S Chief Aftab Sherpao said, his party will not support any military take over; suggested early polls to overcome challenges. (Majority of papers)

Ø  JI, JUI-F and other religious parties have moved closer to each other in order to revive MMA well before the next general elections and a final decision in this regard is expected by the end of this month. (News)

Ø  PML-N MNA Ayaz Ameer said, taking Memo scandal to SC is a conspiracy against government and democracy. (Daily Times)

Ø  Newcomers joining PTI will quit legislatures to avoid disqualification under the defection clause. (Dawn)

Judiciary:

Ø  CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said, system will work as per law; SC would not let anyone to take over government; gone are days when illegal governments got extensions from the courts; all parties including PPP equal before law; army also has trust in judiciary. (Majority of papers)

Ø  SC rejects Prime Minister’s reply on Babar Awan press conference. (Majority of papers)

Ø  CNG load-shedding resumes in Capital Islamabad; IHC dismisses petition of CNG station owners seeking exemption. (Majority of papers)

News Analysis:

Ø  NATO admits mistake but would not apologize, report by Mariana Babar. (News)

Ø  Imran Khan has taken U-turn by accepting in the party ranks a former IGP Malik Naveed Ahmad, who has one corruption reference and two inquiries pending with the NAB, report by Umar Cheema. (News)

Ø  Prim Minister Gilani’s past views do not confirm what he says now, report by Usman Manzoor. (News)

Ø  Guessing game at Prime Minister Gilani’s reception, report by Khawar Ghumman. (Dawn)

Ø  Grand cover-up, grand pre-emptive strike, grand failure: Are Zardari, Gilani going to kick live bombs? Report by Shaheen Sehbai. (News)

Ø  PPP studies options for defusing tension; action against Defence Secretary mooted, report by Syed Irfan Raza. (Dawn)

Ø  Imran Khan not to annoy MQM; Qureshi’s cat to stay in bag, report by Tariq Butt. (News)

Ø  PML-Q weighing options other than PPP, report by Wasim Ashraf Butt. (Dawn)

Ø  Is Javed Hashmi boarding PTI’s bandwagon? Efforts on to retain disgruntled PML-N stalwart, report by Jawad R. Awan. (Nation)

Ø  Why so much restlessness on Memo investigations? Report by Ashraf Javed. (Nation)

Foreign:

Ø  US State Department spokesman Mark Toner says, US supports democratic process in Pakistan. (Majority of papers)

Ø  Can Pakistan’s “accidental” President survive? Reuters report. (News, Nation)

Ø  US CENTCOM Chief General James N. Mates’ visit to Pakistan for briefing on NATO inquiry report cancelled. (Majority of papers)

Ø  Afghan President Hamid Karzai rejects US peace deal with Afghan Taliban: Washington Post. (Nation, Daily Times)

Economic:

Ø  Foreign investors extract $ 113 million from stock market due to worsening economic condition in Pakistan. (News, others)

Ø  World Bank will provide $ 5.5 billion to Pakistan in three years for poverty reduction and development agenda. (Majority of papers)

Ø  Foreign direct investment declines by 27 percent. (Majority of papers)

Media:

Ø  Balochistan Union of Journalists condemns threats to journalists. (Majority of papers)

General:

Ø  Citizens protest gas outages in twin cities; block Islamabad Express way; torched two armoured police cars. (Majority of papers)

Defence/Terrorism:

Ø  COAS General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani has reiterated that Pakistan Army have no intention of taking over and would continue to support the democratic process in Pakistan; speculations aimed to divert focus from real problems; issues of National Security will be considered on merit alone and no compromise under any circumstances; army will keep supporting democracy. (Majority of papers)

Ø  PML-Q leaders Ch. Shujaat Hussain and Ch. Pervaiz Elahi called on COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. (News)

Ø  4 people including a doctor short dead in Karachi. (Dawn)

Ø  TTP militants storm FC fort in Tank; one soldier killed, 15 kidnapped; TTP says, attack revenge for October 26 US drone attack. (Majority of papers)

Ø  DG, ISPR Major General Athar Abbas has rejected NATO claim that Pakistan Army fired first at US and Afghan forces; rejected US compensation offer. (Majority of papers)

Province:

Ø  Punjab Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution moved by the opposition PPP calling for resisting any undemocratic move to destabilize the democratic setup and weaken democratic institutions in the country. (Majority of papers)

Ø  Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa Senior Minister Bashir Bilour vows to resist any undemocratic move against the government. (News)

Ø  Sit-in outside Balochistan Assembly against Hindu trader’s killing; protesters demand resignation from authorities concerned. (Daily Times)

Ø  MPs of Balochistan Assembly have hailed Punjab Assembly resolution demanding an early resolution of Balochistan crisis. (Dawn, others)

Ø  CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has strongly condemn the statements of PPP leadership against the army; said, Prime Minister Gilani has violated oath by criticizing military; rulers are engaged in bid to strengthen anti-Pakistan forces. (Daily Times)

Ø  EDITORIAL / LEADERETTES:

Ø  Dawn: Over the last few weeks, about half-a-dozen accidents have been reported involving faulty CNG or LPG cylinders. The problem needs to be tackled on multiple fronts. Firstly, action needs to be taken against those workshops installing shoddy kits not approved by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority. The state should also ensure that substandard kits are not smuggled into the country. Secondly, the police need to keep a check on vehicles — both in cities and especially on the motorways.

Ø  Dawn: An internal probe conducted by the US military into the events leading to the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in Mohmand Agency last month has concluded that Pakistani military officers were provided the wrong information on the basis of which they permitted US-led NATO forces to strike. An internal probe conducted and issued report on the NATO attack. Yet American officials have not apologized. The bigger picture remains the deteriorating ties between the US and Pakistan — 2011 has been an annus horribilis in this context. If a worsening of relations is to be avoided in 2012 at least two things ought to happen. One, the US will need more clarity of purpose and a realistic direction in Afghanistan. Two, Pakistan will have to work with the international community, rather than against it, in determining a stable future for Afghanistan.

Ø  Dawn: A recent study by the Asian Development Bank warns that Pakistan is at an increased risk of frequent floods because of a rise in temperature and the accompanying hazard of glacial melt. The ADP report rightly points to the need to cut back drastically on deforestation to prevent flash floods. It also says that what are needed are preventative measures, not those taken after the event. Early warning systems are of the essence here and rehabilitation measures, which are equally significant, come later.

Ø  News: Prime Minister Gilani’s inflammatory speeches on Thursday achieved the intended effect. The government, through its words and actions, is clearly demonstrating its incapability to make clear its own case convincingly and instead will turn the whole matter into a clash between it and the judiciary and the army.

Ø  News: The initial probe report on the NATO attack in Mohmand Agency incident is out and while the US has finally confessed to its ‘mistake’ in the attack on a Pakistani border post, an apology is still nowhere in sight. The need of the hour is for the US to be seen to be taking concrete corrective measures against wrongs done.

Ø  Nation, Nawa-e-Waqt: The unusual outburst of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani against the army on Thursday comes as a surprise. The government, for all its disclaimers, is already in confrontation with the judiciary, having consistently defied the orders of the Supreme Court, and, it appears it has now taken on the armed forces as well. The government will have to decide whether to abide by the court's verdicts or prepare to face the ensuing consequences of its defiance. The judiciary seems determined to establish its right of obedience to its orders.

Ø  Nation, Nawa-e-Waqt: The USA’s Commission on the Salalah killings has emerged. The government must hold out for the full and frank apology it needs, on NATO attack but it must not accept this report as ground for restoring NATO supplies. It must not be forgotten that the hope of quick restoration of NATO supplies is one of the reasons the investigation has been carried out in such haste. Pakistan must make it clear that it will not accept such cavalier treatment from a supposed ally, which not only does not acknowledge the sacrifices it has made in the USA’s war, but adds to those losses, and then asks Pakistan to share the blame.

Ø  Nation: Truthful as it is, Federal Secretary for Trade Zafar Mahmood’s statement that trade with India will initially increase a trade deficit inside the country must have caused quite a stir in the pro-India lobby. The Federal Secretary for Commerce has hit the nail on the head and his warning should be given heed. Given New Delhi’s machinations against us; its plan of destroying our economy through the Trojan Horse of trade will turn out to be the last straw for our crumbling economy. Have we considered where this policy of smug satisfaction and appeasement to our arch rival would take us in days ahead? We would gain nothing from bilateral trade and the idea must be given up.

Ø  Daily Times:  The democratic consensus on top amongst the political class for democracy strengthened and reinforced by a similar consensus at the base amongst the people that only democracy offers any hope of the redress of their problems and future prosperity and progress, the ground will have been laid for changing Pakistan into a country conforming to the principles of any modern, democratic state and society: the supremacy of the will of the people, reflected in their chosen representatives, subject always to recall if they do not perform.

Ø  Daily Times:  The implications are that cooperation with the US, which has already been on a standstill since November 26 due to the shutdown of NATO logistics, will continue to suffer along with the non-exchange of intelligence to help NATO effectively combat the militants. For now, it appears that the door to restoring normal relations between the two countries is to remain shut.

Ø  Pak. Observer: The Prime Minister in his address to the National Assembly said that intrigues were being hatched against the democratic se-up for its pack up. In the larger interest of the country and democracy no hasty conclusions be drawn b any side as the Memogate issue is before an independent judiciary which had repeatedly made it clear that it was there to protect the Constitution. Government’s attitude towards the judiciary is also causing annoyance due to statements by some senior leaders of the ruling party. All stakeholders must keep their cool and avoid going to a point of no return as the consequences would be disastrous for the country.

Ø  Pak. Observer: The US military investigation report into November attack on two Pakistani check posts has been issued. The term mistake used in he report is just eyewash and only regretted the incident instead of accepting he responsibility and extending apology. We think the report would not cool down the people of Pakistan whose sensitivities have been deeply hurt and the Obama administration must apologize over the incident otherwise Pakistan must get out of the war on terror.

Ø  Business Recorder: The Minister for Textile Industry during the CCAC meeting urged farmers to increase yield per hectare and emphasized the need to ensure appropriate quality and safety in pest management. What the government must acknowledge is that raising the support price of cash crops may increase the crop under cultivation and, weather permitting, may actually increase output. In case of a global recession, and the world economies are continuing to operate within a recessionary phase, our capacity to raise export earnings through a rise in textile earnings is therefore unlikely in 2011-12. The solution is evident: ensure energy supply meets industrial demand and support non-traditional exports. Unfortunately given the scale of security issues and energy problems the government has yet to turn its attention towards these critical sub-sectors. To reiterate the solutions are available the political will to implement them is not evident.

Ø  Business Recorder: As stated by the Chief of Army Staff  that military will continue to support democracy in Pakistan and these speculations of a military take-over are aimed at diverting focus from the real issues, nothing on the ground suggests that a move is afoot to bring down the government and fears to that effect are unfounded, but at the same time there is no escape for any of the institutions to clear the air on this Memogate scam when seen in all its alarming dimensions.

Ø  Frontier Post: The Memogate should be allowed to spark that kind of turbulence. If the military command and the civilian leadership have taken diametrically opposite positions on the issue, that doesn’t mean they have to necessarily clash over it. With their two divergent positions, the Memo has just become contentious, about which all facts need to be established imperatively. And since the matter is before the Supreme Court and the bipartisan parliamentary committee on national security to probe, naturally the necessary fact-finding they will do and the truth will be known.

Ø  Express Tribune: The PPP needs to be more open about the challenges it faces and not equivocate on issues when it needs to take a stand. In that context, the Prime Minister’s speech on the floor of the National Assembly on December 22 was most timely and one hopes that the party will now perhaps find its voice which held it in good stead during many years of military dictatorship.

Ø  Express Tribune: The US will not apologize, Pakistan will get no satisfaction, and the NATO supply line through Pakistan will remain blocked. As it is, Pakistan has almost given its final verdict on the issue saying it will not take a simple apology, although some quarters hoped that some such gesture from Washington would soften the stance of the Pakistan Army and the supplies would be resumed.

Ø  Pakistan Today:  The statements from both the military and judicial top slots rubbishing talk of a coup were in response to the premier’s uncharacteristically unrestrained outbursts from the day before. Both the institutions seem to have been caught off-guard by the nature of the language used.

Ø  Pakistan Today:  The Pentagon report has concluded that mistakes by both American and Pakistani forces had led to the air-strikes. A statement by the ISPR has however rejected the conclusions of the investigation for “being short on facts.” There is need on both sides to resolve the issue. With a virtual end to the exchange of information between the two sides.

Ø  Pakistan Today:  As things stand, politically correct statements regarding the economy, especially when they mask disturbing trends, suit Dr Sheikh as much as the President. But justifying excesses instead of admitting mistakes is about just as prudent as defending a faulty outlook that deepens political paralysis. This way Islamabad just embitters an already aggrieved electorate.

Ø  Jang: Situation indicates that the scenario developed in the wake of Memogate scandal is gaining momentum and as such, the issue relating to army and government relations is certainly embarrassing. Whosoever has handed-over the Memo to the US, is an unpardonable act. It is the responsibility of the civilian government to respect the judiciary, army and other institutions. The COAS and Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha have filed their replies according to the law on Memogate issue. All heads of Institutions and political leaders should sit together and seek solutions to the country’s problems with mutual consultation.

Ø  Jang: Pak Army has rejected the US report on NATO attack on two Pakistani check posts in Mohmand Agency. The US has half-heartedly confessed the mistake of NATO forces and tried  to cover it. But it is astonishing that the US did not recommend any action against those officers responsible for the tragedy.

Ø  Express: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that no one is above law and constitution and no one would be allowed to make a state within the state. There is a tussle and the ambiguity is increasing with every passing day. The Chief Justice has said that Supreme Court will protect constitution and democracy and the Army Chief has said that army will not take over. The nation wants to know that who is conspiring against the system.

Ø  Express: USA and NATO have accepted their fault in attacking Pakistani check post but the US is not ready to apologize. ISPR has rejected the investigative report of US. It seems that US is not seriously taking the situation.

Ø  Khabrain: The Chief of Army Staff has said that Army has no intentions to take over the government. This statement will defuse political tension in the country. There are differences in government and army on Memo issue but it does not mean that Army is going to remove the government. Government should concentrate on the issues related to the people. Only people can save the government. 

Ø  Ausaf: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani attacked Pakistan Army in his address in the National Assembly. He asked the nation to stand by the democratic government. Government expects that Army should stand by its all unconstitutional acts. Army tried its best to keep itself away from the governmental business but the government is dragging it to this end. The nation is in the favour of democracy but this democracy is worst than any dictatorship. The Prime Minister is asking help from the nation but he should not forget that his government has broken the back of the nation.

ARTICLES / COLUMNS:

Ø  Irfan Hussain (Dawn): The army leadership is understandably upset about the existence of the Mansoor Ijaz memo, and if the country’s top political leadership was indeed behind the initiative, this would be a major scandal. However, there is no evidence yet to prove that the whole matter is anything more than a figment of Mansoor Ijaz`s imagination, and a part of his bid to achieve fame as an international trouble-shooter.

Ø  Anjum Niaz (News):  President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani don’t work for us or for the country they claim to serve. They work for themselves and their cronies. General Kayani and General Pasha are also proving an enigma. The former is photographed frequently sitting with Zardari or Gilani discussing “security matters” while the people around them are starving or living lives as subhumans. What kind of ‘security matters’ do these three talk of, when the country is riddled with corruption and abuse of power and wholesale loot? Are they talking of their own security?

Ø  Jamil Nasir (News): Corruption problem is multidimensional in nature and essentially requires reduction in regulation, enhancement of accountability and transparency and enactment of whistle-blowing legislation. What is needed first of all is the recognition that corruption is a problem that is curable and a corruption-free society is the most fundamental right we are entitled to as a nation.

Ø  Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman (News): Pakistan needs to tax agricultural income and then invest 30 per cent of the tax collected into agricultural research and strengthening of extension services.

Ø  Inayatullah (Nation): Pakistan is internationally committed … to achieve 86 percent rate of literacy. The literacy rate, however, claimed to have been achieved is 58 percent for the country and 60 percent for the Punjab province. According to the UNESCO Global Monitoring Report, Pakistan will be one of the few countries that will fail to achieve all the six goals of Education For All.

Ø  Taimur Shaique Hussain (Nation): Benazir was a liberal, forward-looking leader, who, unfortunately, found that time was short during her two periods of rule, and not there at all when she sacrificed her life attempting for the third time to bring some semblance of democracy to her motherland.

Ø  Dr. Haider Shah (Daily Times): It does not matter through which party gates the Makhdooms, Kasuris and Legharis enter parliament. The only measure of success is whether Imran or any claimant is able to show the courage and sagacity to deal with the three basic constraints. Only then can the much hyped ‘status quo’ be changed.

Ø  A. R. Siddiqi  (Daily Times): The mere fact that General Kayani had himself requested the Supreme Court to investigate the case to ‘determine’ who ‘conceived’ the memo leaves him little space to manoeuvre out of it. Unless fully vindicated, he would lose the force of his word as the army chief. It is the word of the army chief regarding the reality of the memo pitted against the stand of the government on its unreality and dubious character. The two are headed for a face-off or an outright confrontation depending on the verdict of the Supreme Court.  Once lost, military honour cannot be restored. The negative impact of Memogate on the future shape of the relation remains ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.

Ø  Dr. Maqsood Jafri  (Daily Times): The present government of the PPP has avoided political vilification and vindication. There is not a single political prisoner in the jails of Pakistan. This much credit must be given to the PPP.

Ø  Farhat Taj (Daily Times): The PPP-led government may be toppled. But it may be good for the future of democracy in Pakistan that the government now appears on the high moral ground. This will give an alternative to the people of Pakistan who might be led towards a rigged next election in favour of pro-establishment political parties, such as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and another Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) type of religious alliance. The struggle against the military domination of Pakistan’s polity must go on.

Ø  Mohammad Jamil (Pak. Observer): A complete harmony between the state’s civil power and military power is of utmost import to face up to the dire challenges confronting the nation internally and externally.

Ø  Asif Haroon Raja (Pak. Observer): The government and the military are on one page to take on the US challenge and none is showing any sign of giving in to US deceptive overtures. The brutal and unprovoked attack by NATO, which the US is trying to downplay, will prove expensive for USA. For the first time the government is not yielding to the US pressure and has taken a bold stand and people have welcomed it.

Ø  Khalid Saleem (Pak. Observer): It is governance and the welfare of the common man that deserves top billing, rather than merely the form of government. Good governance, then, is what is – or at least should be – the ultimate touchstone.

Ø  Dr. Raja Muhammad Khan (Frontier Post): The adversaries of Pakistan are all out to defame and subsequently punish ISI and Armed forces, especially Pakistan Army for saying no to their demands.

Ø  Alam Rind (Frontier Post): The Armed forces are the biggest hurdle for Americans to have their way in the region. Americans never accepted defiance, the words of ex US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger are again resounding in the air, wherein, upon Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s refusal to give up Pakistan’s nuclear programme in 1976, Kissinger had said, “We will make a horrible example of you.” Bhutto was hanged on wary murder charges. He laid down his life but Pakistan’s nuclear programme survived. What a defeat to Kissinger. The battle is not yet over. Now it may be the turn of the military leadership.

Ø  Sajjad Shaukat  (Frontier Post): Gen. Kayani said Memo is a conspiracy against the army and national security. So let the Supreme court inquire into the matter in order to know the real connections of the Memogate scandal as already analyzed. And our political elements and media must stop baseless propaganda against Pak Army and ISI.

Ø  Manzoor Ali   (Frontier Post): The Prime Minister is pulling the cart before the horse, it is he who has to form his Prime Ministerial view based on the views of his experts not the other way round. .

Ø  Amina Jilani (Express Tribune): At this fraught point in US-Pakistan relations, maybe we are missing the Haqqani skills and contacts to ward off what the US seems hell-bent on inflicting upon a recalcitrant Pakistan through circumstances of the ‘establishment’s’ making.

Ø  Kamran Shafi  (Express Tribune): The fact of the matter is that the real aim of what is going on is to deny the PPP the majority in the Senate that will surely be it’s if it is allowed to stay in power until the elections in March. Simple, but very bad politics, for will the PPP not destabilise the PML-N government when it comes to power?

Ø  Ejaz Haider  (Express Tribune): The possibility of a compromise therefore still exists. And if one were to be reached, we should, in the days to come, either see a bilateral meeting between Kayani and Gilani or even one involving Z. Interesting days ahead.

Ø  Arif Nizami (Pakistan Today): The memo case has opened a can of worms pitting the military and the civilian dispensation in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation. If not arrested, this will have unpredictable but definitely unfortunate consequences. Perhaps our honourable judges can play an honourable role, a clear break from the past!

Ø  Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad (Pakistan Today): The elections will see a downfall of the PPP and a trouncing of the PML(N). Once Imran Khan comes riding the ‘popular wave’, the state within the state will again face a challenge from the newly elected leader. Whatever else Imran may be, he would be loath to be taken for granted.

Ø  Taoof Hasan (Pakistan Today): All the stakeholders including the leading political parties and the security establishment are agreed upon. Why is the government dithering and trying to give it a twist as if democracy were under assault? Simply because it has been a party to the nefarious attempt to weaken the state and its principal security institutions as also because it wants to run a ‘state within a state’ that would be above and beyond the precincts of the rule of law and where its members would be immune from accountability!

Ø  Saleem Safi (Jang): President Asif Ali Zardari wants a political martyrdom but not a martial law. He knows that this time there would be merely no jail imprisonment if martial law was imposed but the matter may go beyond that stage. The President and prime Minister fully pleaded the establishment on May 2 incident, Haqqani network., Salalah check post. Apparently there is no possibility of Proclamation of martial law but it cannot be ruled out. The army is angry with the US. It would be better Asfandwali,   Ch. Shujaat Hussain and Dr. Farooq H. Naik should come forward and remove misgivings between the military leadership and President Asif Ali Zardari. The President should also reconcile Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Ø  Nazir Naji (Jang): Analysists and  observers categorically claim that restoration of real democracy would take decades in Pakistan. There is a distant possibility for the strengthening and nourishment of democracy.

Ø  Haroon Rashid (Jang): Martial Law should not be proclaimed despite worst kind of corruption and inefficiency. Fortunately the military leadership has realized the situation. It is a  test of the military leadership that it should stick to safeguard the constitution besides observing total decency.

Ø  Tariq Butt (Jang): President Asif Ali Zardari has to prove on December 27, 2011 on the 4th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto that he is not only healthy and can run the affairs of the government but he can also face his political opponents. The President should tell the truth who is hatching conspiracies against his government? The establishment has awarded him a major punishment for his alliance with the PML-Q.

Ø  Prof. Naeem Qasim (Nawa-e-Waqt): Indian “RAW” is conducting subversive activities in Balochistan in collaboration with Afghanistan and US Security agencies, political and religions leaders should alter their vested interests in the best national interests.

Ø  Rana Abdul Baqi (Nawa-e-Waqt): It is astonishing that close aid of President Asif Ali Zardari, Dr. Babar Awan along with Minister for Information, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan during a press conference not only ridiculed the orders of the Supreme court but he also challenged the writ of the Supreme Court and even did not hesitate and hurled personal attacks on the commission set-up by the Supreme court. Therefore it is necessary that the affidavit filed by Gen. James Jhons at the Supreme court on behalf of Asima Jehangir should be scrutinized  in the backdrop of the meetings of Gen. James Jhones with President Asif Ali Zardari as displeasure of Aiwan-e-Sadr over Memogate enquiry is not a secret.

Ø  Farid Khan (Nawa-e-Waqt): A media trial is going on against President Asif Ali Zardari after he assumed the office of the President. He faced all the crises with a smiling face and cover came them. Boycott of the Bonn conference was a bold and courageous decision. The Prime Minister has correctly remarked that security of the country can not be put at stake for stability in Afghanistan.

Ø  Abdullah Tariq Sohail (Express): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has left the decision on the people. Prime Minister does not know that people are under the burden of bad governance. Prime Minister says that no one would be allowed to create a state inside the state but there are so many states in Balochistan and Karachi and the government is helpless.

Ø  Abdul Qadir Hassan (Express): PPP established the most corrupt government in the country after the death of Benazir Bhutto. It is strange that such a government has time to complain about issues related to the male-practices of government.

Ø  Tanveer Qaiser Shahid (Express): An American citizen gave birth to memo scandal. There must be a third force at work which is creating differences between the government and national security institutions. There is a need to solve all the problems on table for the larger interest of the country.

Ø  Abdul Wadood Qureshi (Khabrain): Army has replied to the government in short words that it has no intentions to take over government but the matters of national security will be dealt on merit. The government says that no one will be allowed to create a state inside the state but the President is not giving any head to Supreme Court and the President has established his own State.

Ø  Imran Riaz (Khabrain): The current government of PPP is bent upon creating confrontation with the Army. President Asif Ali Zardari wants political martyrdom. There are little chances of martial law but the government is pushing the army to the wall. There is a need to find a golden mean as the interests of Pakistan are more important.

Ø  Sarfraz Syed (Ausaf): USA is against the government of Pakistan and the nation is clamouring under the Burden of poverty while the Prime Minister is threatring the army. Army protested against the killing of 24 soldiers and Prime Minister said no sate within the state. The country is facing the worst type of corruption but the government is doing nothing.

Ø  Tariq Ismail Dogar (Ausaf): Pakistan Army has stood against USA and USA has created differences between the government and the army. Government is following the way of confrontation with Judiciary which is understandable but why to attack army? PPP wants to be a political martyr and to befool the nation once again.

Ø  Khurshid Nadeem (Ausaf): The constitution has elaborated the duties and responsibilities of all the institutions. There is no ambiguity in the constitution, then why the two institutions have come face to face. After the statement of general Kayani the tension must be finished and government should concentrate on the public welfare issues. The real power lies with the masses.