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. The assassination of the Russian Ambassador in Turkey is the most deplorable terrorist act. It can lead to further tensions between the US and Russia if evidence surfaces as to who is behind the assassination of the Ambassador. (Ibrat Edit)
2. Justice Javed Iqbal Commission is examining over 1100 cases of missing persons. In his briefing to Parliament, Justice Iqbal claimed that government is not serious on the missing persons issue and that it is not taking appropriate actions. He also demanded that the report of Abbottabad Commission on Osama Bin Laden should be made public. The previous governments and the PML-N government have not made many probe reports due to vested interests. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
3. The recent events like the murder of Russian diplomat in Turkey, the suicide blast in a Germany market and firing in a Swiss Mosque as also the on-going civil war in Syria indicate that the situation may lead to third World War. The world will have to give up blaming Muslim world all the time, since it is the Muslim world that is suffering the most. Instead of resolving the Kashmir issue as per UN resolutions, India is carrying out state terrorism and aggression in J&K and continuing unprovoked firing at the LoC. (Jang Edit)
4. PM Nawaz Sharif changed the rules of business and shifted five important regulatory institutions from the control of cabinet division to the concerned ministries. NAPRA has been placed under the control of Ministry of Water and Electricity, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority & Frequency Allocution Board under the Information Technology, and OGRA under the Ministry of Petroleum. Public Procurement Regulatory has gone to the Ministry of Finance. Though, it seems very normal administrative decision it marks a big leap towards civilian dictatorship. (Jasarat Edit)
5. The Abbottabad carnage report should be made public. (Ausaf Edit)
6. JUI-F Chief Fazal-ur-Rehman said that the US and India do not want Pakistan to make any economic progress. His party alone has been raising voice against killings of Muslims. He said there will be countrywide protests on December 23 against killings of Muslims. He further blamed the KPK Government, India and the US for sabotaging the CPEC. (Daily Pak, Ibrat)
7. Reliable sources have revealed to ‘Ummat’ that government and army were on the same page on JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar and JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed and demand of India in regard to Azhar Masood will not be accepted. There is US pressure on this issue but Washington backed out after diplomacy of China. However, after Donald Trump takes over as the US President, India might raise the issue once again at the UNSC. Recently, India’s investigation agency has held Azhar Masood accountable for the Pathankot terrorist attack. Indian lobby in Pakistan media is being used to weaken Pakistan, the sources said. (Ummat)
8. Federal Minister for AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Barjees Tahir said that the UN should refrain from double standards on Kashmir. He added that the freedom movement started in 2016 is stronger than before as the fifth generation of Kashmiris are fighting the war. (Baad-e-Shimal)
9. Commander Southern Command Lt. Gen. Amir Riyaz, said if India will give up its enmity towards Pakistan, it can take advantage of the CPEC. He was addressing operation excellency award program. (Ausaf)
10. In-charge of Islami Jamaat-ut-Talibat (Karachi) Sumbal Yousuf criticised the decision to withdraw ban on Indian TV channels. India has written new history of barbarism in Kashmir. As such promotion of Indian culture in Pakistan is condemnable. The ban on Indian channels should continue. (Jasarat)
11. Auditor General of Pakistan has admitted before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament that the government has openly violated the Supreme Court orders and stood in the way of auditing of the intelligence agencies’ funds by bringing an amendment to stop such audits. The Auditor General is of the view that there must be audit of funds of intelligence agencies because they are national organisations. (Kawish)
12. Statement from PM House has denied any deal between PM and the former Army Chief Raheel Sharif for allowing Musharraf to leave the country. The statement also denies Musharraf’s allegations that Nawaz Sharif had asked him (Musharraf) to dismiss two Army Generals. The statement dubbed Musharraf charges as misleading. (Sindh Express)
13. Participating in a Geo News (TV) programme, senior analyst, Najam Sethi termed Musharraf claims as half-truth. It is true that Gen. Raheel Sharif went to Nawaz Sharif with an intention to ask him to let go Musharraf but even before he speak Nawaz Sharif told him that government has decided to allow Musharraf to leave the country. Sethi said that it is true that Musharraf and General Raheel’s elder brother were good friends and Musharraf played a role in General Raheel’s career. Musharraf was not happy with Kayani since Kayani did not help him. (Jang)
14. Opposition parties in the National Assembly have lodged strong protest over transferring regulatory bodies to concerned ministries. And raised anti-government and anti-Nawaz Sharif slogans. PPP leaders said that the government has resorted to this authoritarian step without taking the House into confidence. This is akin to Mughal rule, they shouted. The decision is striking at the roots of democracy and accountability, they argued. The opposition has decided to challenge the government order in a court of law. (Daily Intekhab)
15. Ghulam Nabi Yousufzai writes that the fact-finding judicial commission report on Quetta terror attack has belied all speculations and has come to conclusion that terror outfits are well funded and most of their members are highly technically trained. Militants plan their attacks in the most scientific of ways. Sandiman hospital is very tricky to go around but these militants were well aware about all the routes leading in and out of hospital. The militant group that attacked advocates was led by 25-year militant Jehangir Badeni (who had passed out from Khuzdar Engineering University), Ali Hassan (21), Habi Allah (24), Sameer Khan (26) and Noorallah (33). Sabi road is the place where suicide jackets were made and where planning for these attacks was made. It is in close vicinity of the Saryab police station. The authorities seized two drums full of explosives, 3 suicide jackets, 8 IEDs, 408 electric detonators, 208 non-electronic detonators, 2 pencil type detonators, 7 remote controls, 8 hand grenade, three loaded pistols, ammunition, ball bearings and chemicals. (Sindh Express)
16. Corp Commander (Karachi) Lieutenant General Shahid Beg Mirza visited Rangers Headquarter and discussed with DG Rangers (Sindh) Major General Muhammad Saeed on the law and order situation. He said peace has been established in Karachi and interior of Sindh because of sacrifices made by Rangers. More steps will be taken to ensure security of people. (Ummat)
17. Anees Qaimkhani, Pak Sarzameen Party leader, says his party will take part in 2018 polls. ‘We will field candidates across the country’. He also told media that his party will be holding a historic meeting in Hyderabad on 23rd December. (Awami Awaz)
18. Wahid Paras in his article under the title ‘Zardari is returning’, writes: there are indications that several big names of Punjab are likely to join the PPP in the midst of meetings to be presided by Zardari on his return. If this happens, it will give a big shot in the arm for PPP and improve its prospects in the next polls. Though it remains to be seen whether the PPP really makes inroads into Punjab’s corridors of power and whether it can regain its glory there, one thing is certain. It is that Punjab is no longer PML-N stronghold as the vote bank stands spilt with the arrival of PTI in Punjab. It will be interesting to watch the changing election scenario with PPP claiming to stage a comeback in Punjab. (Ibrat)
19. JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed has demanded the government to resolve the internal issues of Balochistan and to give an important role to the province in the CPEC. He added that issue of Afghan refugees is also very important, it should be resolved. He also said that dialogue is the best way to resolve issues, dialogues should be held on Kashmir and Afghanistan. Afghan refugees’ issues should be resolved in concurrence with Balochistan’s issues. (Roznama Dunya, Ausaf)