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.

PAK-ISIS
1. Police officers, Taliban commanders and political experts are of the view that ISIS is expanding its network in Pakistan and it has started recruiting Uzbeks as well. ISIS is also in touch with dissidents amongst the Taliban groups and sectarian organisations. ISIS has set up its base in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and is touch with active ISIS members in Iraq and Syria. Afghan police officials say ISIS in Afghanistan has established contacts with most of Kabila parts in Pakistan and most of foreign militants and dissident Taliban leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan have joined ISIS. Junked sheikh, an official in counter terrorism police Karachi said that ISIS is reaching the local militants through social media and is influencing like-minded youth in Pakistan through social media propaganda as is evident from several in Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Al Qaida and other militant Sunni groups now taking to ISIS. The recruitment of Uzbeks by ISIS is a matter of serious concern and big threat to Pakistan’s security. Uzbeks have been part of major attacks including the strike on Karachi airport and naval base with logistic help from local militant groups. One senior Punjab police officer said ISIS roots are getting deeper and stronger across Pakistan because it is now joining hands with groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is active in Punjab and also in Punjab-Balochistan border areas. (Sindh Express)
CHINA
1. The first Chinese trade convoy comprising 50 trucks reached Gwadar through CPEC corridor route. The convoy was given tight security all the way from Khanjrab to Gwadar. The administrative responsibilities of the Gwadar port have been handed over to China. (Sindh Express)
2. First shipment from Gwadar will leave today. China had wanted that its first cargo from Gwadar should leave by end-December but Pakistan made it possible one month in advance. The Chinese cargo will go to Sri Lanka. (Ummat-Jasarat-Roznama Dunya)
UNITED STATES/ AFGHANISTAN
The US consulate was closed in Kabul in the wake of attacks on German consulate in Bigram. (Ummat-Jasarat)
INDIA
1. The terrorist attack on a Sufi shrine in Balochistan took place when the first Chinese trade cargo was to leave Gwadar port. It has been linked with the intention of sabotaging the CPEC project. Indian NSA Ajit Doval’s philosophy is disturbing peace in Balochistan. Indian PM Modi has also said that if Pakistan will not stop interfering in Kashmir it will also loose Balochistan. India is not allowing Pakistan to become an Asian tiger. India defames Pakistani forces and other security organisations. The government should conduct investigations on how India’s secrete agency, RAW’s agents reach to Pakistan. The issue of arrest of the Indian agent Kulbhushan Yadav should be raised at the international fora. Nexus of the Indian agents in Pakistan should be broken. (Khabrain Edit)
2. Columnist Arif Bahar writes: For last two months India has continued unprovoked firing at the LoC due to which 26 people have been martyred and 107 people including women and children have been injured. Houses and shops have been destroyed and cattle have been killed. People are migrating to different places as Indian firing continues. ISPR said that it is the first time that the Indian forces are firing mortar shells on the residential areas. India can play any game to avenge the humiliation that it is facing on the streets of Srinagar. After the failure of the drama of the surgical strikes, India is still looking to avenge Pakistan. AJK people should be made aware of the threats from India. No one should remain ignorant from the ambitions of the enemy. In a way the ceasefire between the two countries is now broken. (Jasarat)
3. Pakistan Economy Watch Chief Dr. Murtuza Mughal said India is creating serious troubles for Pakistan to make it bankrupt. He urged the Government to take notice of Indian conspiracies against Pakistan’s industries. After making Kalabagh Dam controversial, water terrorism and conspiracies against the CPEC, India is now targeting the textile industry. India is giving huge subsidy to its textile sector; banks are giving loans at zero percent interest rates and thud reduced production cost; if Pakistan failed to increase its textile exports, the industry would collapse completely. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
4. UK Sikh Muslim Federation Chairman Man Mohan Singh Khalsa said the Sikh Community would snatch Khalistan from India and Kashmir would become a part of Pakistan soon. He said Indian Government should remain under no illusion as Sikhs are ready for sacrifices to free Khalistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
5. PTI leader Nabil Gabol has blamed India for Shah Noorani attack. The Indian agency is directly involved in terrorism in Karachi. He said that he had predicted that the Sindh governor Ishrat Abad would be sacked. He alleged that on a signal from Altaf Hussain, the PML (N) government sacked the Sindh Governor. The former Information Minister Pervez Rashid held a meeting with MQM Chief in London. He criticised the Pakistan government for not sending evidence to London in the Altaf Husain money laundering case. (Ausaf)
6. Sources told Roznama Dunya that the neighbouring country of Pakistan has funded the suicide attack on Shah Noorani shrine. The attackers were not Pakistani citizen. (Roznama Dunya)
7. Balochistan government has blamed RAW for terror attacks in Balochistan. (Kawish)
8. Hurriyat leaders including Asiya Andrabi have faced torture in captivity in jails. (Jasarat)
ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
1. Lieutenant General Qamar Javed Bajwa tops the list of possible successors to Army Chief Raheel Sharif who due to retire this month end. But General Raheel Sharif is said to favour Multan Corp Commander Lieutenant General Ashfaq Nadeem for the job. Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Rashid Mehmood is also to on 29 November. Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat will be appointed in his place. Post-retirement General Raheel Sharif might accept Saudi Defence Minister’s written offer of leading 34 Islamic nation’s alliance. (Khabrain)
2. Columnist Ibrahim Kumbhar says the government must be made accountable for terror attacks, target killings, and extortions rackets. Though the Home Minister claims that many arrests have been made, the fact remains that about 10 to 15 major terror attacks have taken place during past 2 to 3 months. The National Action Plan (NAP) that was passed unanimously by all the parties is being implemented only on paper. Earlier, the government used to say it is strict about the registration of madrasas but when it came to implementing this part, the government became helpless. Nothing has been done even for reforming the criminal justice system. If this is the way that the government wants to deal with the militants, then nothing better can be expected. The NAP said that there will be no permission to keep private armies but this provision is being violated under the nose of the government. The NECTA has been reduced to be spineless body. (Kawish)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. IG, Frontier Corps, Major General Sher Afghan said that suicide attacker on Dargah Shah Noorani seems to be an Afghan national. Terrorist and their facilitators have been traced. And a hunt has begun for them. Massive operations will be undertaken to root out the terror networks. (Ummat)
2. This is not the first attack of its kind. Such devastating attacks have taken place in the in past too. Surely, this attack on Dargah Shah Noorani has shaken very policies of the government. Such attacks make a devotee think twice before visiting places of worship. The country is based on best tenets of Islam. It has much to offer to the humanity but the current state of bloodshed is highly deplorable with questionable state of security being provided at places ranging from schools to places of worship and training centres of policemen. This is a major reason that Pakistan is being seen as most unsafe country in the world. It is not too late for the policy makers to make policies free from inherent lacunae and to fight the militants and defeat the mind set of militancy in the country. (Ibrat)
3. The terror attack on Shah Noorani Shrine in Khuzdar is allegedly the work of Pakistan’s eternal enemy India in order to sabotage the CPEC and other development projects across the country. The entire Pakistani community will have to stand together to defy such shameful acts of enemies. Apart from security lapse as usual, implementation of the National Action Plan should also be reviewed. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit, Daily Pak Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
4. The Shah Noorani Shrine attack highlights Balochistan government’s apathy towards security of religious places. During the Urs celebrations, police and security agencies did not provide any protection to the pilgrims. Pakistan forces and law enforcement agencies must take efforts to pre-empt such incidents. (Ausaf Edit)
5. Former PM, Gilani said that ‘foreign hand’ cannot be ruled out in the terror attack on the Dargah Shah Noorani shrine in Balochistan. In a statement, he said that the enemy is trying to intimidate Pakistan and wants to cripple Pakistan’s growth. (Awami Awaz)
6. Pakistan Ulema Council condemned terror attack on Shah Noorani Shrine in Khuzdar and said it was a bid to spread sectarian violence. (Daily Pak)
7. Death toll in the terror attack on the shrine in Khuzdar district has reached to 54. Another fourteen 14 others seriously injured are undergoing treatment at a Karachi hospital. About 7 KGs of explosive material and 9 mm pistol bullets were used by the suicide bomber. ISIS has claimed the responsibility for the attack. (Daily Intekhab, Sindh Express)
8. Security forces have defused a three-kg bomb in Dera Bugti which was planted near a house. (Ummat)
9. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs held a meeting with JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed and discussed matters related to defence of the Sacred Mosques in Saudi Arabia apart from working on communal harmony in Pakistan. (Daily Pak)
10. JuD’s welfare institution, FIF, organized free medical camp in Blue Area, Islamabad. 500 people were examined by the doctors. (Roznama Dunya)
ECONOMY/POWER/WATER
1. Finance Ministry indicated that remittances by Pakistanis overseas have decrease decreased between July and October 2016. Total remittances during this period were USD 6.20 bn as compared to USD 6.50 billion during the same period a year ago in 2015. Country-wise break- up: USD 47 crore from Saudi Arabia, USD 35.80 crore from UAE, USD 18.30 crore from the US, USD 17.30 crore from Britain and USD 35 crore from Gulf Countries. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. The people are forced to send their money via money laundering and other illegal sources. This is because of high tax on money transfer via banking and other legal sources. (Khabrain Edit)
3. Brigadier Farooq Zaman, and another army officer Nadeem Khan are facing anti-graft probe, according to Director General of Anti-Corruption, Brigadier Muzaffar Ranjha. (Urdupoint)
SINDH/BALOCHISTAN/KP/PUNJAB
1. While only short-sighted will oppose the inauguration of trading activities at Gwadar yesterday, it is undeniable that Pakistan has a long history of strained relations between the federal government and the provinces. The provinces often complain of being neglected by the federal government. Take Sui Gas project in Balochistan. The Sui gas extraction started in 1949 and gas lines were laid across country’s nook and corner but sadly people in Sui region continue to be deprived of this gas. This is the main reason that people and political leaders in Balochistan are sceptical about the Gwadar project. It is the local governments and local people who have the first right on mineral resources and ports in any province but they are being ignored. Such practices are sure to make locals raise hue and cry. The only way out to such situations is to address the apprehensions of the locals and in case of Gwadar, concerns and fears of Baloch people can be addressed by handing over the administrative control of Gwadar to the Baloch locals. Balochistan is part of Pakistan and hence Gwadar control can be handed over to Balochistan. All provinces except Punjab have objections and complaints vis-à-vis the Gwadar port. More serious complaints have come from Balochistan and KP. In fact, the KP speaker has gone to court. Heavy investments are being made in Punjab in power projects under CPEC and others are being neglected. The federal government should look into the grievances of Sindh, Balochistan and KP provinces vis-à-vis the CPEC. The governments in the three provinces are elected by the people and as such they should be not ignored. (Awami Awaz Edit)
2. According to BBC, the Scotland Yard police have closed the money laundering case against Altaf Hussain and five others. The Police have sent a communication to the advocate of MQM London in this regard. The letter stated that investigations against six persons in money laundering case were over, and that the case is now closed. The process of returning the seized money would begin. (Urdupoint, Sindh Express)
3. Banners have started appearing in Karachi in support of Musharraf. ‘We need you- Musharraf’, said these banners that appeared suddenly in Karachi east yesterday night. In certain other parts of the city, Musharraf’s pictures were also seen. (Kawish)
4. PPP leader Mohammad Ali Sheikh who was abducted from Karachi airport about a year and half ago, has spoken with his family on phone raising hopes of his early reunion with them. He is be very close to the PPP leadership. (Kawish)
5. 170 Councillors have revolted against MQM Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar and have now re-established contacts with MQM, London. They stated that they had supported Farooq Sattar on August 23 under pressure. (Sindh Express)
6. Marking the first death anniversary of its senior leader Dr. Yasin Baloch, National Party held a big public meeting with leaders taking a pledge not to protect the Baloch identity at any cost. Former Chief Minister of Balochistan Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch said that the National Party will not relinquish Balochis right to control the shores and resources of Balochistan. ‘We will have to go beyond the politics of contracts and jobs. Time has come to unite the community for obtaining right to self-determination. Unless we fill up Balochistan Assembly with the Party workers, reaping the benefits and obtaining the rights of the general public will be difficult’. Another party veteran, Tahir Bizenjo asked the government to remove all the reservations of Baloch people over the CPEC project. Sardar Aslam said in the race towards progress, Balochistan will not allow Baloch race to be converted into a minority in their own homeland. Hasan Nasir, Jan Mohammad Balidi, Sardar Kamal Khan Bangalzai, Muhammad Khan Shahwani, Rajab Ali Rind and other leaders spoke on the occasion. (Daily Intekhab)
7. After the attack on Shah Noorani Dargah, Sindh government has issued a security alert for the safety of 79 dargahs in the province. Four of these dargahs have been termed as extremely sensitive. (Ummat)
POLITICAL SCENE
1. Dubai is emerging as new hub for Pakistan politics. The PPP is holding meeting there tomorrow. Musharraf is already politically active there and is planning to form an election alliance against the PPP and the PML-N. The ousted Sindh Governor, Ishratul Ibad is also busy establishing contacts with politicians. PPP meet to be chaired by Asif Ali Zardari will discuss issues relating to Panama, the Dawn news leak report, and other key issues. Bilawal will also interview some of PPP’s office bearers. Musharraf is in touch with MQM Pakistan, Pak Sarzameen leadership, PML (Q), Awami Tehreek and other like-minded in Muslim leagues about forming an alliance. Sources close to Musharraf however say he is not interested in heading the MQM Pakistan or any other political party; he is also not interested in forming any political alliance; these meeting, according to the sources, are aimed at discussing on how to fight against PPP and the PML-N at national level. Only after these meetings with like-minded provincial parties end, Musharraf will contemplate forming alliances at various levels. Musharraf’s party will also consider talking to Imran’s party also for an alliance. Musharraf wants to complete the spade work before his return to Pakistan. In his view, alliance with MQM Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party will help to avert split in the MQM vote bank. He is also in touch with former Sindh governor, Ishratul Ibad, and Mustafa Kamal to work out a truce between them. (Sindh Express)
2. Musharraf expressed his desire to head the joint MQM-Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party. In his meeting with Khawaja Izhar of MQM-Pakistan at Dubai, Musharraf said that the MQM is now left with no big name and there is need for some strong political person to strengthen MQM-Pakistan’s roots and make it a party of the masses. He said that he is popular among masses and thus he would be able to deliver what MQM requires. Pakistan Sarzameen leaders have also called on Musharraf in Dubai. Former governor of Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ibad met MQM-Pakistan convenor Farooq Sattar in Dubai. (Ibrat)
3. Home Minister Nisar Chaudhary has flown to the UK on a three- day visit. He will get a medical check-up. He will meet the UK Home Minister and the Foreign Minister. PPP has expressed surprise over Home Minister’s visit to the UK. Syed Ghani, the PPP senator said Nisar should be immediately sacked. Another PPP leader, Rehman Malik, asked the government to implement NAP. (Kawish)
4. PTI and its Chief Imran Khan should reconsider their myopic decision to boycott Turkey President’s to a joint session of Parliament though they claim to have taken the decision to spite at Prime Minister Sharif in the wake of Panama corruption case. (Daily K2 Edit)
5. Jamiat-e-Ulema J&K President Maulana Peer Attique-ur-Rahman, who is also heads the Central Jamat Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan Supreme Council, said there is a need to impose Nizam-e-Mustafa in Pakistan for its existence as an Islamic country. India cannot snatch Kashmir from Pakistan as the UN had registered 84471 sq. miles area including Gilgit-Baltistan and J&K as one entity. Maulana Attique urged Pakistan to take up the issue afresh with the UNSC and ask India to give self-determination right to the Kashmiris as per UN Resolutions. (Nawa-i-Waqt)