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.

TURKEY- FAILED COUP
1. Turkey’s public foiled the military coup and set an example to other Muslim countries, including Pakistan. (Roznama Dunya Edit, Jang Edit)
2. The Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, has said the failed coup in Turkey, has no relevance for Pakistan, and added that the role of the Pakistani Army should not be discussed. He praised the Pakistani forces for carrying out Op Zarb-e-Azb successfully. (Ausaf)
3. The people of Turkey have written a new history by foiling the attempts to topple the elected government. People who came out on the roads paid with their lives. Turkey has passed through such rebellions in the past too, but this time, the winner was not the rebel section of the Army but the people of Turkey. Such traditions should continue because in civilised times people alone are a model for good governance and elected governments alone are an ideal forms of a government for larger good of the people. July 15 will go down in Turkey as Day of Democracy’s Protection. In the history of Muslim countries, this will go a long way in inspiring people especially, the people who are always living under the fear of dictatorship. (Kawish Edit)
4. Hamid Mir writes that the failure of military coup in Turkey is an example and a lesson to learn for Pakistan. Leaders who are happy with the defeat of the military coup in Turkey should work hard to put their political parties in order and strengthen the police and civil departments, instead of relying on the Army and Rangers in the time of difficulties. (Jang)
5. Waseehat Allah Khan writes: Sorry Sir, Pakistan is no Turkey. Like several day-dreamers, he also wanted not to make comparisons between Pakistan and Turkey. There have been military coups in Turkey similar to Pakistan; Turkey’s first PM was hanged by the Army rulers; that may have inspired the Pakistani generals. Will there be attempts for a fifth military coup in Pakistan just like it happened in Turkey? The answer depends on whether there is any such nationally popular and strong political party upon whom the electorate across Pakistan have any trust? Have people got anything, economically or socially from democracy so that people will come out on roads to save democracy in Pakistan and will not hesitate to sacrifice their lives? (Ibrat)
6. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi writes: Salute to Turkey and its people for safeguarding democracy. There are few such occasions when people have come out ignoring tanks on the road and the jets in the sky. It will not be wrong to say that the political leadership in Turkey has earned respect from the people as it was evident from the fact that one call from their leader has brought about a huge mass of people on the roads to defend democracy. If Turkey’s conditions are compared with Pakistan’s, then a few distinct differences come to the fore. In Pakistan too, the Army takes to coup. While the Army in Pakistan looks up to the religious groups for support, the Turkey Army tries to keep the religious parties away from the political system. The major reason why the coup failed in Turkey was because the people of Turkey were with their political leadership. When the Pakistan Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, saluted the people of Turkey for stopping the coup, and said others (meaning the Pakistani Army) should take lessons from the failed coup, he perhaps forgot that his government has done nothing for the people. There are no teachers in schools, no policemen at police stations, no doctors at hospitals, no judges in courts and no PM in the PM House. In other words, the very system is conspicuous by its absence; none in the government or even in the Opposition should have any illusions that the people will come out on roads in their support if and when tough times befall on the government. (Awami Awaz)
AFGHANISTAN
1. The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani telephoned PM Sharif and confirmed the death of terrorist leader Umar Khorasani, who was wanted by Pakistan. If Ghani continued his cooperation, Pakistan will soon be freed from terrorism and the entire region will be peaceful. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
2. The Afghan Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar have decided to jointly fight the Americans. Hezb-e-Islami has also confirmed that a well-known commander Mullah Muhammad Ismail Nasim has been killed in a US drone attack. The Hezb-e-Islami commanders are imparting guerrilla training to the Taliban; they are also taking part in the fighting at the front line. (Ummat)
3. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said the people of Afghanistan should take the cue from Turkish people, and stand up against the US. People should block all the roads in Kabul till the US forces leave the country. The non-violent movement can generate support for their cause at the international level. (Ummat) (Ummat)
4. Afghan Taliban have killed 25 allied soldiers including 15 American troops in Kunduz. Taliban have shot down a spy plane and a helicopter, destroyed eight tanks and attacked chowkies and looted weapons. (Al Qalam Weekly, 15-21 July)
INDIA
1. Pakistan is studying Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s four- point formula. It is expected that Pakistan will announce its support to the formula. (Roznama Dunya)
2. Anjuman Talaba-e-Islam’s (ATI) Muhammad Zubair Siddiqui Hazarvi said that freeing Kashmir is part of their faith and they would not hesitate to offer their lives to liberate Kashmir. (Jasarat)
3. JI Chief Siraj-ul-Haq has asked all political leaders to unite for at least a fortnight on the Kashmir issue. The people of Kashmir are offering their lives but in Pakistan everybody is speaking for himself. (Jasarat)
4. Pakistan has decided to organise an international conference on the situation in Occupied Kashmir. It has also decided not to resume the suspended negotiations with India unless India’s aggression in the occupied valley is stopped. The Pakistani officials have informed their Indian counterparts of their protest on the situation in Kashmir and have demanded that the atrocities should be stopped immediately on the peaceful and unarmed citizens. If the Indian government does not stop atrocities in Kashmir, Pakistan can rethink its diplomatic relations with India. The future strategy will be formulated after consultations with the representatives of various parties in the National Assembly. Important circles in the federal government reviewed situation in the occupied valley and decided to start a diplomatic campaign to draw the attention of the United Nations and the international community. Foreign Secretary and other high ranking officials will tour various countries. Pakistan envoys in all countries have been asked to raise the issue of tyranny of Indian forces. (Daily Intekhab)
5. JuD chief, Hafiz Saeed, said Pakistan should snap all diplomatic and trade relations with India. Along with all religious, political and Kashmiri parties, he would kick start a movement against the aggression on Kashmiris He urged (Roznama Dunya)
6. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over situation in Kashmir. He further said that the ban on Kashmiri newspapers for three days was curbing freedom of expression. (Jasarat)
7. Federal Minister Rana Tanvir has said Pakistan will not leave the Kashmiri people on the sympathy of India. The 20th July will be observed as a black day. (Ausaf)
8. The PTI held a rally in Karachi to protest against the Indian campaign in J&K. Addressing the rally, party senior, Halim Adil, thundered that under Imran Khan’s leadership PTI would free Kashmir. (Jang)
9. The international community should ask the Indian forces whether they want to convent J&K into a Gaza. The Indian forces cannot suppress Kashmiris courage and their freedom movement. India terms itself a democratic nation but bans the freedom of expression. The Pakistan government should adopt an aggressive policy against India. (Khabrain Edit)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Terrorists fled after an encounter with the security forces in Okara district of Punjab. Weapons, bombs, Indian currency and police uniforms were seized from their hideout. (Jang, Roznama Dunya)
POLITICAL SCENE
1. Zarar Pirzada writes: model Qandeel Baloch is done to death! Fearing for her life, she had requested security from the Home Ministry. But the request was turned down. Tide started turning against her the moment when her pictures and videos with Mufti Qavi surfaced in the media. These pictures and videos destroyed the esteem enjoyed by the clergy. Her only fault was that she exposed the tall claims of the clergy and showed the society as to how these so-called respected personalities of religion meet models from the fashion world in hotels. It is strange that when the society talks about honour or self-respect, it punishes only girls and not males. Why nothing is done to Mufti Qavi while Qandeel Baloch is made to pay with her life. She came on the hit-list because she confronted these muftis. On other hand, Mufti has given a statement saying that people and women, who want to defame a clergy, should take lessons from what happened to Qandeel. Her brother has killed her but it is not clear whether he did it on his own or for some heavy pay-out. (Awami Awaz)
2. Senator Aijaz Damrah writes: As the election times are nearing, the PML -N leaders and ministers have once again started raking up the controversial Kalabagh dam issue. Like Musharraf, the PML (N) government too has entrusted the WAPDA with the job of creating an atmosphere in favour of the Kalabagh dam. The Assemblies of Sindh, Balochistan and KPK have rejected the dam plan. Now, technical experts have started labelling Kalabagh as the most dangerous project for the country. Yet, Jafar Mahmood, the current WAPDA Chief, is out to campaign for the Kalabagh dam and is writing a series of newspaper articles. How can a government employee advise the leadership of a big political party like PML (N) to construct the Kalabagh dam? And can he do it suo moto? Apparently, the PML (N) is behind this. Whatever arguments WAPDA Chief is making have already been rejected by the people and the Sindh, Balochistan and the KPK Assemblies. Thrusting such a project on the country is nothing short of indulging in anti-national activities. Sindh has often suffered on the water front. If there is flooding in Punjab, its waters are released into Sindh and in times of drought in Punjab, Sindh is made dry to make water available for Punjab. Right now, Sindh is facing 18 to 20 hours power cuts daily. If WAPDA is genuinely interested in ending power shortages, then it should small dams and tap alternate sources of energy. The PML (N) government should endorse its predecessor PPP government’s decision to bury Kalabagh dam project forever. (Kawish)
SINDH
1. The Sindh Chief Minister denies reports of a reshuffle of his cabinet. (Ibrat)
2. The Sindh police have indicated a breakthrough in singer Amjad Sabri assassination case. We have moved closer to given an indication in its reports that they have got closer to nabbing the killers. (Ibrat)
BALOCHISTAN
1. Acting President of Balochistan National Party, Malik Abdul Wali Kakar, Prince Agha Moosa, Jan Ahmed Zai, and Central Finance Secretary Malik Naseer Shahwani, said the CPEC project is an effort to convert the Baloch race into a minority. There is an organised plan underway to confiscate lands from its original owners. Abductions of the BNP workers, raids on their homes and arrests will not subdue their mountain-like determination and their ideological struggle. (Daily Intekhab)
POK/G-B NEWS
1. A 40-member Chinese delegation of investors expressed interest to investments in health, energy, tourism and other sectors of Gilgit-Baltistan. (Daily K2)