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.

CHINA
1. Afghanistan and China have signed an agreement on construction of a road worth USD 204 million. According to an Afghan official, a Chinese firm has got contract for the project. (Ummat)

SAUDI- RAHEEL
1. It is disturbing for the US, Iran and India that the General (Retd) Raheel Sharif has become the head of the Islamic Army. There are some sections within Pakistan who are also unhappy because of their ideological moorings. Hence, the government should openly present its stance on the issue. (Edit Ummat)

2. Azerbaijan, Indonesia and Tajikistan have decided to join Islamic military alliance under the leadership of former COAS General Raheel Sharif and thus alliance would be of 42 countries. According to sources this alliance will be equal to NATO and China and Russia will support it. Report states that the alliance was proposed by former PM of Malaysia, Muhammad Mahathir in 2005 which was liked by Saudi King Shah Abdullah and had desired to bring it on OIC agenda. (Jasarat)

3. Pro-Iran news anchors were crossing their limits in their love of Iran and criticizing the former COAS General Raheel Sharif’s appointment as the head of the Islamic army. (Ummat)

4. It is unfair to say that the former COAS General Raheel Sharif is becoming the head of Muslim United Army without prior knowledge of Pakistan army and government. In the past, a blueprint of such an army consisting of Muslim countries was given to Saudi Arabia by former ISI Chief Hamid Gul but then Saudi Arabia was not having any security threats. After the civil war in Yemen and its effect on Saudi Arabia it has woken up out of the slumber and paid attention to the formation of an Islamic army. It is also expected that Iran will be included into it later. (Ummat)

5. Retired General Amjad Shoaib writes: Following Saudi’s showing interest in making Raheel Sharif as head of 39-countries army alliance, PM Nawaz Sharif gave the clearance to Raheel Sharif for the Saudi job. Raheel Sharif has made three conditions for accepting the Saudi job. One include Iran so that army alliance does not give the impression of any sectarian bias. Two he will not be under anyone’s command. Three he will also have full authority, he will be competent to play the role of mediator if need be. He can play a role to bring Muslim countries closer. (Sindh Express)

6. Major General (retired) Aijaz Aiwan says Raheel Sharif has told him that he would seek a clearance from Pakistani authorities before undertaking any assignment. He will not take any such step that would affect Pakistan’s foreign policy. He also said few months ago he had travelled to Iran along with the PM and had mediated on one Russian issue. (Sindh Express)

US/UK/RUSSIA
1. US did a deal worth USD 90 thousand with Maulana Tahir Ashrafi for framing an alternate statement against sectarianism. Accordingly, Tahir Ashrafi will select and train rapid response team in sensitive regions on sectarianism. These teams will consisting of civil society and religious leaders. US State Department signed the deal with Tahir Ashrafi’s NGO, Peace and Education Foundation on March 9th last year. It is valid till 31 July 2018. (Ausaf)

AFGHANISTAN
1. Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has stressed the need for a two-way security management on the Pak-Afghan border. He said the allied forces can play an important role in this mechanism. Commander of the American and Allied forces Commander General John Nicholson met the Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. He also toured Miran Shah Bazaar. He praised the successful operations of Pakistan Army and admitted a need for a combined border security co-ordination. (Daily Intekhab)

INDIA
1. India is distressed after Pakistan’s test of Babur 3 first nuclear capable submarine cruise missile. (Ummat)

2. Now that a ground level mood in Kashmir has been presented by Yashwant Sinha Commission, the Indian Government should change its attitude. The international community should chip in to resolve the matter and avoid an atomic war. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

3. UK and Canada have asked India to stop general massacre of innocent Kashmiris. It means the intentional community took notice of the critical situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Yashwant Sinha committee which had recently visited Jammu and Kashmir also suggested to the Prime Minister Modi to resolve the Kashmir issue and to stop atrocities on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. UK, Canada, US, Russia, Germany and other nations, reviewing the Kashmir issue, should make a visit to Jammu and Kashmir and AJK. The UNSC should form a commission for investigating India’s cruelty in Jammu and Kashmir. With that report, Pakistan can move the international war crime tribunal. (Ausaf Edit)

4. UN and the US are once again at the diplomatic level pushing up the possibility of India –Pak talks soon. The international community is pressuring the Modi government. Post the restoration of talks between India and Pakistan, the Kashmir and other outstanding issues would be discussed. (Khabrain)

ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
1. A day after criticising the army courts, Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah changed his statements perhaps under pressure from his party PML (N). He now supports the army courts and avers that with the rise of army courts; civilian courts have got some relief. Two days ago, he said there is no need for the army courts and had gone on record to say that army courts did not make any difference to militancy. The performance of army courts was not that was not good enough. He had stated that the army courts in fact were set up by government pleaders, judges and witnesses had no sense of safety. Once anti-terror civilian courts are made stronger, there will be no need for army courts. (Sindh Express)

2. Following the attack on Peshawar army public school in December 2014, the government and the army were on the same page to fight terror and the National Action Plan was formulated to fight terrorism. One of the points in that plan was to set up army courts to fight terror. Since militancy has become a bigger challenge for the country, setting up army court had become inevitable. Recently when the army courts were completing their term, Home Minister Nisar Ali Khan commented that there is nothing under consideration to extend the term of army courts. The public relations department of army also confirmed that army courts do not exist any longer and these courts were set up only because of judicial system was under pressure and also because of apprehensions that judges might be influenced by the militants. On other hand, a meeting under PM yesterday said consultation is in progress about the amendments to extend the term of the army courts. The statement issued later also said army courts had helped check militancy. The constitution is clear on redressal of every grievance and the only thing needed is the implementation of what the constitution says. Not only militancy but every problem in the country can be fought only if the rules and regulations in constitution are strictly implemented. (Awami Awaz Edit)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Izhar Jatoi in a Special report on terror attacks writes: 908 persons were killed in 441 terror attacks during 2016. Of these, 106 attacks were made by TTP and 66 were by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. TTP, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Alalmi Baloch rebels are emerging as a big threat in Balochistan. These statistics were given in an annual security report by Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, Islamabad. Though militant attacks have come down in 2016 and they were indeed 28 per cent less than that in 2015 the militant groups continue to pose a threat. They are busy exploring new areas. Besides getting strict, the government will have to consider some alternate plans. Policy makers and the establishment will have to keep watch on changing activities of the militants. According to the report, 66 terror attacks by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar speak not only of their rise but also of the weakness of operations against Taliban. 50 per cent attacks were related to target killings. Sectarian incidents have come down during 2016. But sectarian groups are becoming part of the right wing. The country is being divided on the sectarian lines relegating political and other social considerations to side-lines. In 2016, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi took new name as Jhangvi Alalmi and targeted one shrine at Khuzdar. It is now believed that they are establishing contacts with other global terror groups. With regards to Balochistan, the report says that TTP, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Alalmi are emerging as challenges bigger than Baloch rebels. It is clear from their attacks at Quetta and Khuzdar. Attacks by Baloch rebels were of low intensity. Political reconciliation is suspended since last year in Balochistan. Hopefully, it will be resumed in 2017. (Sindh Express)

BALOCHISTAN
1. Banned organisation Balochistan Liberation Army commander Baligh Sherbadini surrendered and joined national mainstream with his associates. (Khabrain)

SINDH/KP/PUNJAB
1. Allah Bux Rathor, in his article, ‘Wave of growing fundamentalism in Sindh’, writes: Few days ago, Karachi Press Club got its walls cleaned. Portraits of men and women, who had made their names in different walks of life, were painted on these walls. The idea behind getting these persons painted on the walls was to show respect to these personalities. Some of these personalities are Sabin Mahmood (human rights activist who was killed in Karachi), Fatima Surayya Bajia, Zubeida Mustafa, Yasmeen, and Parween Rehman among others. One religious group from Punjab that had held demonstrations on the occasion of Salman Tasir’s death anniversary (Taseer is a former Punjab governor, and a known liberal. He was killed by his fundamentalist body guards) has disfigured all these paintings. They have put black ink over them. This has created a sense of panic that fundamentalism might enter Karachi Press Club corridors. On the occasion of Salman Taseer’s anniversary in Lahore, demonstrations were held against Taseer and about 150 protestors were taken into custody. No action was taken against them. In fact, all the protesters were released without registering any case against them. Thus the arrests were just eyewash and the entire nation was taken aback by the leniency shown to these fundamentalists. One should not forget that lenience will only embolden such fundamentalist forces. The Punjab government in its recent apex committee meeting said that it is committed to the implementation of the National Action Plan. There was one such meeting by Sindh apex committee too presided by the Sindh CM and attended by new Karachi core commander and DG Sindh Rangers. In this meeting, the Sindh Chief Minister blamed the Federal government for not implementing NAP. Sindh government had recommended action against 62 fundamentalists and a ban on 94 madrasas but so far there is no implementation of those recommendations. Sindh CM had said that these madrasas that have been identified (for ban) are involved directly or indirectly in militancy. Fundamentalism is on the rise in Sindh. It is evident from madarsas coming up in different parts of Sindh. These madarsas are specially coming up in Hindu dominated areas. Language used by Talibs is beyond the understanding of the locals. It is important to observe that most of these madrasas are not even registered. They are functioning illegally. Sindh government is oblivious to these madrasas. These fundamentalists are trying to disturb peace in Sindh. Instead of waiting for the Federal government to take action, the Sindh government should initiate action. Sindh is already reeling under fundamentalism as it is evident from growing ethnicity related issues in north Sindh. This is being deliberately done to disturb and destroy Sindh society’s peace Many miscreant groups have been brought at places from Ghotki and Jacobabad to encourage fundamentalism. At least nothing of that sort had happened during the past 25 years at Karachi Press Club (KPC). Fundamentalist groups held protest meetings in front of Karachi Press Club. Some elements had tried to set everything afire in the past too but yet no such thing had happened within or outside Karachi press club which will spilt society. Changes have thus crept in Karachi Press Club. Apparently there are forces that are supporting negative elements. If this situation continues, the administration will have to step in one day and ask these elements to make their protests at some distance from Karachi press club. KPC is some sacred place and it is duty of every media person to protect it. So far, only social media and one English newspaper Dawn have taken notice of what had happened at KPC. This is not just KPC’s issue. Fundamentalists acts can be seen everywhere across Sindh. Forces claiming to see betterment in the society should now come forward. (Sindh Express)

POLITICAL SCENE
1. The government and the Opposition are locked in a wordy duel over the issue of acquisition of lands for the CPEC. The government should handle the issue sensibly and shut the mouth of the antagonists. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

2. The conditions are limping back to normalcy and a sense of panic amongst people is gradually on a decline. However, there are apprehensions, as to when will the times get worse. There are always ample of political reasons for that. On the one hand, the Panama case is before the court and on the other hand PTI has threatened to hit the streets on the issue once again. Such a threat has been made by the PPP which said it will press the agitation button after December if its four demands are not met. While the opposition is giving threats of agitation, the government too is doing its bit to add to the tense situation as is clear from the statements by some of its leaders. In fact it should be the government’s responsibility to lessen tensions because they are in power and if conditions demand they should not hesitate to make any sacrifice. If the government keeps following the policy of an eye for an eye, it will only affect country’s growth. (Ibrat Edit)

POK/G-B NEWS
1. Malik Abrar Ahmed, chairman, Standing Committee for Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan Affairs of the National Assembly, says AJK should get share equal to the share of other provinces under the NFC Award. This is necessary to make the AJK budget self-sufficient. He also demanded action against officials responsible for delay in constructing the Rathor Haryam Bridge which is a part of Mangala Dam Raising project. He said AJK should get one rupee and ten paise of water use charges as it is received by other provinces instead of mere fifteen paise that it is now getting. He was addressing the Committee meeting. (Daily Dharti)

2. Gilgit-Baltistan Government has put a ban on religious leaders from delivering political speeches. Any one violating the law would be sued. The government will monitor the speeches made in mosques. (Baad-e-Shimal)

3. Gilgit City is facing a shortage of 35MW electricity and it is said to worsen in the days ahead. Secretary Electricity and Water ministry said that people should stop using heavy electrical equipment to get uninterrupted electricity for 18-20 hours. People also should pay electricity bills. (Baad-e-Shimal)