SOURCE: Ausaf, Ummat, Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Urdu Point, Daily Jinnah, Awami Awaz, Daily Dharti, Jasarat, Kawish, Daily Intekhab, Daily Times, Jang, Ibrat, Khabrain, Roznama Dunya, Hizb Media, Al Qalam Weekly, Baad-e-Shimal, Bang-e-Sahar, Sindh Express, Pk Voices

1. New Army Chief’s first visit to Saudi Arabia indicates the direction of Pak-Saudi defence relationships and partnerships. The visit will enhance bilateral cooperation, giving positive and useful results for both the sides. COAS General Qamar Bajwa met Saudi Chief King Salman and other dignitaries and assured them of Pakistan’s commitment to safe guard the holy mosques at any cost. (Ausaf Edit, Daily Pak Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
2. Pakistan -Iran border should see a step up in vigil and monitoring of security. Iran’s envoy should be summoned and protest lodged for the recent attacks from the Iranian side. Govt should consider providing new advanced security gadgets to the border guards. It is essential to remember that owing to Op Zarb-e-Azb, terrorists have moved to the Punjabi regions like DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Mandi, Bahauddin, and Sadiqabad. They must be targeted with no second thought whatsoever. (Ausaf Edit)
3. With home grown critics like Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Mohammed Khan Sherani Pakistan needs no foreign enemies. (Ausaf Edit)
4. There is need to conduct population census in Gilgit-Baltistan. Municipal elections also should be held there without much delay. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
5. People of Skardu are facing hardship due to shortage of fuel. The problem has become aggravated with the onset of winter. (Daily K2 Edit)
6. At a time when PPP is gearing up to make itself active in all the four provinces, Zardari is on his way back home from self-imposed exile, and Bilawal is getting popular, changing the Sindh Police Chief A. D. Khawaja does not send right signal. Whatever might be reasons for the provincial government’s decision, it has kicked up a debate that the Sindh government and top PPP leaders of the province do not want meritorious and capable people to head Sindh Police. It will be in the interest of the PPP’s Sindh government to nip such impressions in the bud. Rau Anwar case, controversial SSP from Malir is also said to be a reason for sending the Sindh Police Chief on forced leave. Of late Sindh police was earning good image, now this too will be affected with the replacement of Khwaja. The Sind government is advised not to take any haste moves that will leave negative impressions in the society. (Ibrat Edit)
7. Youth of Sindh have been doing well almost in every sector including education and other technical sectors for about 15-20 years, but the PML (N) government tops the list for doing maximum injustice to and discrimination against the Sindh. It keeps looting Sindh of its natural resources but when it comes to giving Sindh its dues, like giving jobs in the federal government departments, Sindh is often discriminated. People are brought from Punjab and given employment in Sindh. Data for the past three years show that maximum oil and gas has been produced from Sindh but it did not get much in return. Petroleum Ministry contends that wherever technical staff is needed, if it is not available locally, people from other provinces are drafted is an old lame excuse. It does not obfuscate the reality that there is no dearth of qualified personnel for technical jobs in Sindh. All parliamentarians from Sindh should take up the issue with Islamabad. (Sindh Express Edit)
8. PML (N) government is responsible for the anti-Pak statements coming from India and Bangladesh. One such critique by Bangladesh Interior Minister, Assaduzzaman demands that Pakistan should be isolated for supporting terrorists. Government of Pakistan doesn’t dare to stop Indian and Bangladeshi leaders who use dirty language against Pakistan and level unnecessary charges. (Jasarat Edit)
9. Administrative decisions are becoming reasons for institutional disarray and decay. Admittedly it is within Sindh government’s discretionary powers to make appointments and transfers of bureaucrats but as is evident with what had happened in the case of Sindh Police Chief who has been forced to go on leave, some vested interests have come to decide administrative decisions. This is happening almost in every department. Political interference in the institutional functioning should stop. Institutions should be allowed to function according to their capabilities within given rules and regulations. This is the only way that the institutions deliver better results and people stand to benefit. Rule of the republic and should be established Pakistan. And elected governments should not treat the land as their personal fiefdom (Kawish Edit)
10. Pakistan is the main source to meet Saudi Arabia’s defines requirements while Saudi Arabia is the main petroleum provider to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia was a great supporter in making Pakistan a nuclear power. Relations with Saudi Arabia are mainstay of Pakistan’s foreign policy. (Jang Edit)
11. India’s willingness to settle differences on Indus Water Treaty and its suggestion to the World Bank for more time to let the consultation process are the latest twists in the IWT saga. Pakistan fears that Indian authorities want to complete construction of controversial dams by delaying talks. These fears are compounded by Indian PM’s threat stop even a drop of water to Pakistan. The World Bank is should bring India to the talks table and make India to settle the dispute legitimately. (Jang Edit)
12. JuI (F) Chairman Fazal-ur-Rahman is not justified in his objection to merge FATA with KP province. Maintaining its status quo is not in people’s interest. Merging FATA with KP is necessary to bring the area into mainstream and to make it benefit from development projects. (Jang Edit)
13. Speaking with his supporters at Quetta airport, JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed said Indian government and its agencies are behind destructive activities in Balochistan. Through planning, regionalism and linguistic divide is being promoted in Pakistan. On 21st December, historic ‘Difa-e-Islam’ Conference will be held at the ‘Railway Hockey Grounds’ in Quetta. (Urdupoint, Daily Pak, Jasarat)
14. The Word Bank is under Indian pressure and it is taking decisions to benefit India with regards to the construction of Kishanganga and Tale Dams. India has taken advantage of the soft policy and silence maintained by Pakistan. For last three months, India has stopped monthly exchange of water flow reports and shut all other traditional doors of contacts with Pakistan. (Ummat, Roznama Dunya)
15. PTI submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly seeking to give India the status of the most non-favourite nation. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
16. By a majority vote the Senate has adopted a non-official resolution asking the Sharif government to demonetise the 5000 rupee notes. Senator Raza Rabbani was in the chair. Lawmaker Usman Saifullah introduced the resolution saying that most illegal transactions in the country are in Rs 5000 notes, and therefore it should be scrapped as legal tender. Federal Minister Zahid Haamid opposed the resolution citing India’s experience and said demonetisation will have a bad effect on the economy. Usman Saifullah replied that he only wanted no more printing 5000 rupee note while the existing 5000 notes are phased out over three to five years. (Daily Dharti)
17 Pakistan will procure state of the art MI35 from Russia in 2017 for $153 million, says Federal Minister for Defence Production, Rana Tanveer. He also said that Russia has expressed interest in joining CPEC project. The increasing Russian interest in CPEC and deepening Russia-Pak friendship are causing heart burn to the Indian rulers.. (Daily Intekhab, Urdupoint)
18. Bilawal Zardari Bhutto met Deputy Minister of China’s Central Committee’s international department. (Urdupoint)
19. Chinese deputy minister has invited Maryam Nawaz to visit China. (Urdupoint)
20. China’s stand-in ambassador to Pakistan, said that China will set up a big steel factory under CPEC in Gwadar. All the stake holders will sign the agreement. Others on the anvil for Gwadar are upgradation of local airport and setting up of coal based power plants and vocational institute for fishermen. (Urdupoint)
23. Pak Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman met the Prime Minister and discussed matters related to PAF. (Urdupoint)
24. PTI and PPP have decided to adopt joint stand against the government in Parliament. (Urdupoint)
25. Foreign diplomats based in Quetta, Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar and have been advised not to attend public functions without government’s permission due to security reasons. They have also been asked not to leave their stations without prior permission from the Foreign Ministry. (Jang)
26. An estimated 7188 persons were killed in 5000 terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwah during last 10 years. (Jang)
27. Former Karachi core commander assumed new role as ISI Chief. Lieutenant General Naved Mukhtar has taken over his new charge. Balal Akbar, former Sind Rangers’ head has become the Chief of General Staff at GHQ. Outgoing ISI chief Rizwan Akhtar has been shifted moved to National Defence University as its head. Also, Major General, Mahmad Syed has taken over as DG Rangers Sind (Sindh Express, Urdupoint, Jinnah, and Jang)
28. Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid has claimed in National Assembly that Nandipur Project was given to a black listed company Dong Fong. He has offered to quit Parliament if he is proved wrong. (Ausaf)
29. Manzoor Mirani writes his column titled ‘Zardari’s imminent arrival and Sind police Chief on his way out’, transfer of officers are within government’s discretionary powers but in a country like Pakistan, nothing happens out of blue. Yet eyebrows are sure to rise since the government powers are always be exercised by PPP leadership that is Zardari and not by the chief minister. Hence governance in Sindh will never get better. (Kawish)
30. Federal minister for Port and Shipping, Mir Hasil Bazenjo has objected to Mehmood Khan Achakzai’s demand for separate province for Afghan refugees. He demanded their early repatriation. He said that he will not agree for population census as long as Afghan refugees are present. (Urdupoint)
Terrorism & Militancy
31. A Pentagon report says, there are still many terrorist groups including Taliban, Al-Qaida, Haqqani network, LeT, TTP, Daesh, Khorasan and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan having safe hide outs at Pak-Afghan border, which pose security threat for both the countries and the region. The report lauds the steps taken by Pakistan to improve security but wants total abolition of these terrorists’ hideouts. (Urdupoint)
32. The caravan of Arab Shaikhs, out for hunting of a rare bird, came under fire in Panjgur. Unknown motor cycle borne attackers fired on the convoy, damaging one of the cars. Security personnel immediately returned fire but the attackers escaped. Levis and other security forces immediately surrounded the area and began search operations. (Daily Intekhab)
33. Former Chief Minister of Balochistan and central leader of National Party Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch said that holding of Census in present circumstances is not acceptable to the Party. “We reject any census operations in Balochistan in the presence of all foreigners including Afghans. I was against it even when I was the Chief Minister” he said addressing the senior body of the Party. He threatened to move the Supreme Court if the Federal government persists with its census plans. (Daily Intekhab)
34. Five senior police officers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwah, Punjab and Balochistan including IG level officers have decided to challenge Sindh government’s decision at appropriate higher forums. Such actions will demoralise the police force. A person who has remained Punjab police IG is quoted saying ‘it is surprising that on the one hand Sindh government advisor Mulla Bux Chandiyo praises A D Khawaja in his TV talks and on the other hand, he is being forced to go on leave. Such acts will always work like Damoscle’s hanging sword over lower cadre of police force and will affect their performance. (Kawish)
35. Mahesh Kumar Amrani writes: demanding a change in the location of the Ghorani Dam, people of Thar have been agitating in front of Karachi Press Club for past two months; they want that their agricultural lands should not be forcibly taken away from them to build the dam. The agitators have suggested ten alternative sites but there is no one in the Sindh government to listen to their grievances. Neither elected members from this belt nor competent officials are prepared to listen to them. To add to their woes, it is now being alleged through campaigns that these villagers are against development at Thar and that their agitation is an anti-national act. (Awami Awaz)
36. Daulat Thari writes: The government needs to take notice of the resentment and protests of the people of Thar against the construction of Ghorani Dam forcibly. The matter should be resolved with localities since no one in Thar is against development. Their basic rights of farmers should be respected by ending the sense of dismay and unrest amongst them. (Awami Awaz)
37.. Shahbaz Osto in his column titled ‘Crony rule’, says the onus is now on Sindh intelligentsia, civil society, media, enlightened citizens and the people with conscience to come forward to save Sindh from ‘one party rule’ and ‘crony raj’. Else history will not pardon these members of civil society for remaining quiet. (Kawish)
38. Aijaz Mungi says if army’s interference in politics is not good, how political interference in police can be justified? Rulers will have to bear this in mind that democracy in Pakistan is weak not only because of army’s interference in politics but also because elected governments do much interference in the police departments. If departments or police are not allowed to function independently, what can be expected from the system? What type of justice can be expected from the courts? If law keeping machinery is kept in chains, how can there be any justice. The respect being given to the outgoing Police Chief, Khwaja is not because of his post but because of his merit, his values and all that he stood for. It is no surprise if intelligentsia in Sindh feels let down with his replacement. (Sindh Express)
39. The Sindh government was apparently not happy with A. D. Khawaja for several reasons including recruitments based on merit, not helping one sugar mill of a powerful person, not going slow and soft on the culprits of an ethnic group (reference to MQM). Though the decision was taken two months ago but the Sindh government was not able to muster courage to remove him because Khawaja had support of powerful and influential groups. As those influential groups (Karachi’s core commander and Rangers’ Chief in Karachi) went out of Karachi (on promotion), the Sindh government got the chance to replace him. Khawaja was being forced to tender resignation but a powerful force in Islamabad asked him not to do so. Thereafter he was asked to proceed on 15 day leave till the end of month, handing over charges to the Additional IG, Mushtaq Ahmad Meher. Khawaja has fallen out of Zardari’s grace and it is learnt that Zardari had asked his replacement before his return. Two days ago, as soon as CM returned from Dubai, he called Khawaja and apprised him of the development and asked him to resign. Khawaja refused and so he was asked to proceed on long leave. Zardari wants to bring in Abdul Majeed Dasti as new Police Chief. Right now, Dasti is RPO at Quetta. Sindh government has written to the federal government for services of Dasti. So far the federal government has not obliged. If the Federal Home Minister sticks to its guns, Sindh government might send A D Khawaja back to the federal government. Khawaja was brought in as Sindh Police Chief on March 11, 2016. Mushtaq Meher and Gulam Qadir Thepo are amongst senior most eligible for the post of police chief. (Sindh Express)
40. The outgoing Sindh Police Chief Khawaja has signed the orders appointing about 10,000 people as constables. He has also filled over 2000 vacancies in the Traffic Police. (Sindh Express)