Pakistan Urdu Press: October 5-11, 2009
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    • Nawae Waqt, Opinion, October 6, 2009
    India’s deployment of Mig 29 at western border, an indication of a war: Nawa-e- Waqt
    Quoting newspaper reports, Nawa-e-Waqt Urdu daily in its editorial says that India has decided to deploy its Mig 29 fighters at the Indo-Pakistan border and two squadrons of fighter jets have already reached Udhampur air base. The paper quotes Air Commodore H S Arora as saying that this decision is aimed at keeping IAF in a state of preparedness. The editorial notes that India’s deployment of Mig 29s indicates that it is ready to go for a full scale war and advises Pakistan to understand India’s aggressive designs and further suggests that it should tell the US not to teach Pakistan that India is its friend. The paper says that the military and political leadership of Pakistan should prepare for a befitting reply to India’s possible aggression. It says Pakistan should plan to paralyze those who try to harm its integrity and sovereignty. It asserts non-use of our atomic weapons at this critical juncture, would be useless and an item in a “show case”. The daily advises military forces to fulfill their responsibility in securing Pakistan’s borders. 
    (http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-urdu-online/Opinions/Editorials/06-Oct-2009/4976)

    Ausaf, Opinion, October 6, 2009
    Corrupt ruling class responsible for deaths in nuclear power Pakistan: Eijaz Ahmad
    “It is unfortunate that when the world is setting foot on the Moon, and sending satellites into space, it is the misery of Pakistani people that because of its inept and corrupt leadership they are facing a crisis of water, electricity, flour, sugar and other basic necessities”, writes Eijaz Ahmad in an OpEd Column in Ausaf Urdu daily. He says that “it is not that Pakistan lacks resources, but the ruling class of the country is so greedy and selfish that it does not look at any thing except its own benefits as a result of which the people suffer”. Narrating a recent incident of a stampede in Karachi in which 18 people died and 35 others were wounded, he says the government has arrested the person who by distributing these goods free of cost to the poor was serving the people. He says it is insensitive on the part of the government that it arrested him and opines that had the government been able to check spiraling prices, people would not have queued up for their basic goods.
    The columnist says that “in the 21st century we proclaim ourselves to be a nuclear power but people are dying of starvation in this ‘Kingdom of God’”. He says that had our ruling class not been corrupt, the government of the day could have been dispensing the country’s resources for people’s welfare thereby preventing people from committing suicide.
    (http://www.dailyausaf.com/edi_detail.php?id=1442&art_id=45)

    Mashriq, Editorial, October 7, 2009
    There is no basis of questioning US insistence on transparency in disbursal and usage of its fund: Mashriq
    As details of Kerry-Lugar assistance bill comes to the fore, the media, opposition parties, the intelligentsia, civilian and military leadership have raised concerns about some of the clauses of the bill, writes Mashriq Urdu daily in its editorial. The federal cabinet will review the bill and then it will be sent to Chiefs of the armed forces so that they could reach a decision on whether to accept or reject it. The paper states that in certain political circles it is said that some clauses of the bill has tried to vitiate the present atmosphere of amicable relations between the military and civilian leadership and will create doubts within the military leadership. For example one controversial clause of the bill spells out how US officials and related departments before providing assistance would ensure that how much control Pakistan’s civilian government enjoys over the military, defense budget, chain of command and strategic guidance and planning. Some of the analysts believe that this clause is aimed at determining the path and role of the civilian and military leadership, writes the editorial. The paper says that some other analysts believe that by accepting the Kerry-Lugar bill, the Pakistani leadership has sold off the country’s sovereignty to the US.
    However, the paper sympathizing with the US says that “if the US is paying 1.5 billion US dollar per annum from its taxpayers money it will certainly wish to see that its assistance is used on its targeted objectives. Pakistani governments and the bureaucracy’s record of spending foreign assistance has not been good, so we have no basis to question US insistence on transparency in disbursal and usage of its fund.” The paper in this context suggests the Pakistani leadership abandon its old practice of pulling down one another and should evolve a common strategy over the issue of US assistance.
    (http://www.dailymashriq.com.pk/editoral/edit%2010%207.html)

    Express, Opinion, October 7, 2009
     Baloch nationalists say their movement is to achieve complete freedom: Khakwani
    The intensity of ongoing violence in Balochistan is increasing day by day. If it is not extinguished, then nothing will be left. Our intelligentsia is either unable to understand the disquiet among Balochs or complacent that this issue would be resolved easily, writes Mohammed Amir Khakwani in an opinion column in the Express Urdu daily.
    Based on his interaction with members of the Balochistan Student Organization (BSO), to which he terms a resistant anti-establishment force, Khakwani says that they say that “the basic goal of their movement is to achieve complete independence of Balochistan come what may”. They completely rejected nationalist leaders and said that those Baloch leaders will talk of the federal government and parliamentary politics will draw a blank this time.
    They said that because of a continuous breach of trust and oppression they are forced to take extreme steps. The columnist says that when they were asked what are the steps that will make them bring them to the negotiating table; they replied that they will not agree for any thing less than independence. On the question of provincial autonomy and assistance packages, they responded with a satirical smile. The author says “another piece of information coming from Balochistan also strengthens such an impression.”
    During the last one year all the political activists and other people part of civil society and NGO’s who visited Balochistan especially Bangjaur, Khazdar and Turbat agree on the point that political forces there have weakened, says the columnist. Those who visited say that Akhtar Mengal who spent several years in jail, when he talked of parliamentary politics his position also weakened. The local populace has accorded Hasil Bazanjoo and Dr. Abdulhai Baloch and others the status of villain. Baloch resistance only accepts Sardar Mari Bakhsh as their leader. His acceptance is not because he is a Marri Sardar, but because he has raised the flag of separatisms, says the author. Among Nawab Akbar Bugti’s grandsons, Brahmdar Bugti enjoys support from both Baloch nationalists and militants. Aali Baloch is considered the tool of the establishment. Nawab Bugti’s other grandson Shahzeen Bugti, who is based in Punjab, focuses only on resolving Derabugti’s problem. His five point formula for talks on stopping military operations forthwith includes cancellation of plans to construct new garrisons, ensuring rehabilitation of migrants from Derabugti and ensuring reparation to homeless.
    The columnist suggests that apart from giving assistance packages to Balochistan, the government should also allay their concerns and should bring a package which he calls “confidence building package” so that they are convinced that the government wants to heal their wounds. Only then they could be persuaded to join the negotiation table. He reiterates that “it must be remembered that there should be no further delay and each passing day increases the complexity”.
    (http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1100731832&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20091007)

    Jasarat, Editorial, October 8, 2009
    Approval of Kerry-Lugar Bill by Pakistani parliament may open up confrontation between military and civilian leadership: Jasarat
    The Jasarat Urdu daily in its editorial writes that “Prime Minister Geelani has termed the adoption and passage of Kerry-Lugar Bill by the US government as its victory”, but the majority of the people in the country consider this an insult to Pakistan and a defeat to the government. The paper says that the kind of response the army has given over the bill make us believe that it may lead to a confrontation between the government and the military. The paper says that “a childish argument is presented that the clauses have been put by the US and the US Congress has passed the bill, and the Pakistani government is not connected with the process”. The paper asks if it is imposed by the US without the Pakistani government’s consent then why the bill is not being rejected. The paper warns that in case Pakistani parliament approves the bill it may open up a confrontation between the military and civilian leadership and “the victory of a democratic government will turn into defeat”.
    (http://www.jasarat.com/graphic/details.php?category=editorial&date=08-10-2009)

    Nawa-e-Waqt, Editorial, October 8, 2009
    Debate the Kerry-Lugar Bill in the joint session of the parliament: Nawae Waqt
    Commenting on the recent controversy of the Kerry Lugar Bill, the Nawa-e-Waqt Urdu daily commends Prime Minister Geelani’s decision to debate the bill in the national assembly, but the paper criticizes him for indicating that he will defend the bill in the parliament and says that he is trying to approve the bill using his party’s strength in the parliament and thus wants to avoid criticism by the opposition. The paper demands a joint session of the parliament so that all the contentious clauses infringing upon “national security” are debated threadbare and asks the people not to accept any assistance which compromises national sovereignty and integrity.
    (http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-urdu-online/Opinions/Editorials/08-Oct-2009/5029)

    Azkar, Editorial, October 8, 2009
    Kerry-Lugar Bill; American Conditionalities are for civilian governments: Azkar
    In its editorial , the Azkar Urdu daily commenting on the Kerry-Lugar Bill says that “ In fact there is no opposition in the parliament over accepting the assistance from the US, the differences are over certain clauses and conditions in the Bill and once the US concedes Pakistani objections our political parties will accept the Bill.” The paper says that in the past the US has preferred the military dictatorship over the civilian leadership as it toes its line willingly. In the past the US has provided its assistance to Pakistan’s dictatorial regime without any strings attached, but it places conditions on elected governments only.
    (http://www.dailyazkaar.com.pk/new/detail.php?category=15365&category_id=27&page=)

    Jang, Opinion, October 11, 2009
    Pakistan faces existential threat: Farooq Laghari
    “Pakistan is passing through a delicate phase of history. The challenges we are facing today we never faced earlier. The causes of these challenges are partly internal and partly external”, writes Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Laghari, in an opinion column in Jang Urdu daily.
    Referring to the Kerry-Lugar Bill, he says that “PEACE Act 2009 is an example of the worst kind of servitude of our leadership”. He says “for this act, which attaches unacceptable conditions, our leadership has done some secret deals and as a result of which Pakistan entered a scene where its army and ISI is seen as promoter and accused of terrorism.”
    Leghari says, the “Pakistani people can be thankful for US assistance but are not ready to sell their autonomy. Our autonomy is not sellable at the cost of 1.5 billion, 10 billion, 100 billion or on more than that. Our people want an end to corruption. They expect good governance, justice and democracy. They are also not in favour of military intervention. We want peace with our neighbours especially Afghanistan and India but we do not want that some one levels baseless allegations at us and tries to teach us morals.”
    In conclusion he says that “there is no doubt that Pakistan’s existence is in danger”. He reiterates that to counter the challenges posed to its existence due to the seriousness of the situation, the Pakistani people, parliament, civil society and political leadership need to fulfill their responsibility. We should show courage to say no to NRO, corruption, lawlessness, autocracy including the ‘neo colonial language’ and insulting conditions of the PEACE Act 2009.” He says “we have to make the US aware that if they want to end terrorism they should act as a real friend. They should end supplying nuclear technology to India. We are a friend so we should be treated as a friend. This could be the only way to achieve the goals of the PEACE Act.”
    (http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/oct2009-daily/11-10-2009/col4.htm)

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