• A “free hand” to the security persons to deal with terrorism is needed but not against innocent: The Ausaf
• The US should end its hostile policies if it is a true friend of Pakistan: The Ausaf
• The severity of situation demands sincere steps: Jang

A “free hand” to the security persons to deal with terrorism is needed but not against innocent: The Ausaf

Editorial, May 27, 2011

The Pakistani Urdu dailies have wrote editorials on diverse issues this week. The Ausaf Urdu daily, commenting on a decision taken by Cabinet Committee on Defence, writes that the Committee under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Gilani has taken some “important decisions”. The security forces have been given a “free hand” to deal with terrorism. Before the terrorists come out of their hideouts and attack the cities they would be “besieged within their hideouts”, writes the daily. The daily opines that “there are many reasons behind the spread of terrorism. One of the reasons is that our security forces have some time fought defensive war and some time offensive war against the terrorists. They paid little attention to some facts such as where their hideouts, and from where they buy the jackets and necessary materials for suicide bombings? As a result, they spread out to different cities and have become monstrous.”

The daily suggests that “there is no need to get mired in the debate about whether a particular terrorist is an American or Afghan or Indian agent. The person who has a gun in his hand and kills people is a terrorist. And it is the responsibility of the security persons to arrest these terrorists wherever they are hiding.”

The daily, however, raises some apprehensions about the “free hand” given to the security forces for dealing with terrorists. It writes that “there is no doubt that a free hand against terrorists is the need of the hour. But when this kind of free hand is given to the security persons then they kill some innocent people on suspicion.” For instance, “the FC in Balochistan has killed some Chechens recently who later turned out to be pilgrims.” To overcome this problem, the daily suggests the need to “evolve a fool proof system” which could differentiate between citizens and foreigners and between innocent people and terrorists.
http://www.dailyausaf.com/news/id/56369/

The US should end its hostile policies if it is a true friend of Pakistan: The Ausaf

Editorial, May 28, 2011
The Ausaf Urdu daily, commenting on the US Secretary of State’s recent visit to Islamabad, writes that “it was being speculated that she will assure that drone attacks would be stopped, would express her regrets over killing of Pakistanis by Raymond Davis and during Abbottabad operation, and will ensure that this would not be repeated again. But she came with the demand to do more and made threatening statements and used language that amounted to blackmail.” It goes on to observe that “if the US is a true friend of Pakistan it should end all its hostile roles against Pakistan.”

The daily presented a list of wishes to the US Secretary of State to prove that the United States is a true friend of Pakistan: “It should stop the drone attacks forthwith, should end India’s role in Afghanistan, should eliminate its espionage networks in Pakistan, should compensate Pakistan for all its sacrifices in the war on terrorism in the region, and should implement the joint resolution of the Pakistan parliament to respect the sovereignty of Pakistan.” It concludes that if the US continues with its existing policies, while the ruling elites may remain an ally of the US the people will not support the decisions of their rulers.
http://www.dailyausaf.com/news/id/56497/

The severity of situation demands sincere steps: Jang

Editorial, May 26, 2011
The Jang daily in its editorial against the backdrop of terrorist attacks on Karachi’s Mehran Naval base writes that “the anti-national elements have sent the message of their presence in every nook and corner and their capability to do all that they can.” It further writes that “the May 22 incident has changed the thinking of those who had been attributing the destructive activities in Pakistan to some unhappy elements in the country.” The expertise of those who attacked the naval base, the exact information they had, their targets, and their success in sneaking out of the base, have all raised many questions. The attack has also revealed that those abetting and planning the terrorist attacks have come out openly against Pakistan.

The daily also writes that the attack on the military base has once again brought to the fore the debate about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets. It opines that “the situation is very severe and demands alertness and serious preparedness from our government and national institutions. The situation suggests that the nation confronts challenges on many fronts. One enemy is in front of us but there are some other elements whose shadows can be perceived. We should remain alert from all those elements and should meet the demands of our national security.” The daily, however, does not identify these elements whose “shadows” are being perceived.
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/may2011-daily/26-05-2011/idaria.htm