Pakistan Urdu Press: August 3-9, 2009
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    • Azkar Urdu Daily, Editorial, August 3, 2009
    Investigate connection of local landlords in lynching of Christians at Gojra:Azkar
    Condemning the killing of Christians in Gojra village of Tobatek Singh District the Azkar daily in its editorial says that factually no evidence has been found against Christians desecrating the Quran in Gojra. The newspaper says that some local landlords wanted to occupy the land on which the victim’ families were settled. The newspaper advises the law enforcement agencies to look into this fact while investigating the issue and says that sometimes the miscreants take the refuge of religion to meet their goals but in reality they do not have relations with religion and humanity. The daily says that if the investigation finds that the desecration of the Quran has not taken place, the law enforcement agencies should mete out exemplary punishment to all those who used religion for the accomplishment of their personal goals. The daily concludes with the observation that those who killed an innocent person, killed humanity.
    (http://www.dailyazkaar.com.pk/new/detail.php?category=13601&category_id=27&page= )  

    Jang Urdu Daily, Editorial, August 3, 2009
    Probe foreign involvement in Gojra incident: Jang
    The Jang Urdu daily, however, views the Gojra incident from a different perspective. In its editorial it says that if an individual of the Christian community was allegedly involved in the desecration of the Quran, action should be taken against him. The newspaper says that Pakistan has a good record of dealing with minorities but in India -the so called torch bearer of secularism-, Christian’s villages were burnt to ashes and priests were burnt alive. The newspaper alleges that there may be some foreign elements who want to replicate the incidents that happened in India and advises investigative agencies to probe this aspect while dealing with the Gojra incident. The newspaper says that law enforcement agencies should also probe whether elements involved in the incident have links with a foreign country?
    (http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/aug2009-daily/03-08-2009/idaria.htm)

    Khabrein Urdu Daily, Opinion column, August 3, 2009
    Whole country would plunge into anarchy, if an operation is launched in South Punjab: Jamaet-e Islami
    In an opinion Article “From Balochistan to South Punjab”, Syed Munawwar Hassan Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in Khabrein Urdu daily writes that “Balochistan is sitting on the heap of explosives and news about national flag being removed from the houses are true, it is 101% true, but the story started with military operations in Balochistan during the Bhutto, Zia and Musharraf regimes.” He says despite these wounds and operations if they want to remain with Pakistan and demand provincial autonomy within Pakistan, they should be appreciated. He says that it is a reality that they have been deprived of their basic rights and governments in Islamabad have not treated them as equal citizens. He says that if this kind of oppression and injustice is meted out to anybody, a feeling of rebellion and resentment is generated.
    As regards to South Punjab, the Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami says that “Balochistan like situation in South Punjab is being presented and if an operation is also launched there then the whole country will plunge into anarchy”. He says that “as per our information military and para-military forces have been deployed in Dera Gazi Khan and areas adjacent to Dera Ismail Khan in Balochistan. Those plying on trawlers in Patnu River are being frisked by the para-military forces as civilians were frisked in Swat during the initial days of the operation.” He says that the stories of ammunition seized from a Madarsa in DG Khan and fighting with police were concocted. He says that people in Punjab want to know whether Shahbaz Sharif who termed the Swat operation inevitable would support the operation or will present another argument for that?
    In conclusion he says that the rulers in Pakistan should open their eyes and desist from acting on behalf of the United States. He says that “the US wants, people and the army to fight with each other, communal clashes become rampant and anarchy prevails in Pakistan so that they reach our nuclear assets in Kahuta and advocate it to put it under UN supervision. If the Pakistani rulers do not understand the fact, the people of Pakistan should understand this and prevent Pakistan from becoming the US’s ‘grazing ground’ and support ‘go America go’ movement”.   
    (http://www.khabrain.com/idaria_detail.aspx?id=5)

    Jang, opinion column, August 4, 2009
    Correct Pakistani politics to stop emergence of another Musharraf in future: Saleem Safi
    Commenting upon the ongoing debate on putting Musharraf on trial, columnist Saleem Safi in Jang Urdu daily writes that “it sounds good to hear that if Musharraf gets punishment under Article 6, it will end the way of military intervention” in Pakistani politics. However, he questions that even if the judiciary passes a judgment against him, who will help execute those verdicts? Safi says that Zardari and Rehman Malik have reached their posts after a deal with Pervez Musharraf and an NRO issued by him. Nawaz Sharif ended his long march after the assurance from the Army Chief, not from President or Prime Minister. The columnist says that the ground reality is that the military is the strongest institution in Pakistan whereas the government’s performance graph during the last one and half years has plummeted in the eyes of the people.
    Safi says that Musharraf is like a “dead horse” and argues that those who talk of sending him to the gallows so that military intervention ends forever forget the fact that before 1999 they were also talking in the same vein that the military will not intervene in politics. He suggests that to strengthen democracy it is important to put the democratic leader elected leader on the right track. But unfortunately the leaders in Pakistan have not corrected themselves even after the restoration of democracy. He says that “be it Nawaz Sharif, Zardari, Afsandyar Wali Khan or Maulana Fazlur Rahman, every one is Musharraf (dictator) of his party. Nepotism is their policy.” In lieu of the conclusion he says that “it would be better not to waste time on debating Musharraf and rather try to correct our politicians so that another Musharraf does not emerge in the future.”
    (http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/aug2009-daily/04-08-2009/col5.htm)

    Asas, Editorial, August 4, 2009
    Gojra incident: result of negligence by Provincial government and law enforcing agency: Asas
    Commenting on the Gojra incident in which eight Christians were killed, the Asas Urdu daily in its editorial says that “the intelligence reports collected by the Federal Interior Ministry indicated that there were chances of violence in sensitive areas in the country including Tobatek Singh”. The newspaper says that had the provincial government acted on the intelligence inputs, the incident could have been averted.” The editorial further says that “we believe that this was a mistake not only on the part of the Home department of the provincial government but the DP and DCO in Tobatek Singh also committed serious crimes by not stopping the protesters. Had they executed their duties this incident could have been averted.”    
    (http://www.dailyasas.com.pk/aadaria.html)

    Al-akhbar, Editorial, August 4, 2009
    Why not book Musharraf for his heinous crimes asks Al-akhbar daily
    Against the backdrop of lodging a case against Sufi Mohammad for treason and instigating rebellion against the state, the Al-Akhbar daily notes that though a case has been registered against Sufi, Musharraf who committed more heinous crimes has not been booked. The newspaper says that the “crime of Musharraf is more serious as he sacrificed the ideological and Islamic image of Pakistan and killed innocent people in Lal Masjid.”
    (http://www.alakhbar.com.pk/Idaria.asp?today=8/4/2009)

    Azkar daily, Editorial, August 4, 2009
    Address class issue to tackle violence against Christians: Azkar daily
    The left leaning Azkar daily argues that violence against Christians in Pakistan is a class issue. Commenting on the Gojra incident the Azkar daily in its editorial questions whether “we should try to understand that why in the cases of so called blasphemy and desecration of Holy book, only Christians’ houses are put on fire while there is no such incident against Hindus in Sindh?” The newspaper says that since the Hindus in Sindh are financially and socially strong and in the case of blasphemy, cases are not registered in police stations against them whereas the Christian community, majority of whom are below the poverty line and labourers are targeted physically. The newspaper says that it is a class problem and till the government finds a solution for it, these kinds of incidents may recur in the future.
    (http://www.dailyazkaar.com.pk/new/detail.php?category=13621&category_id=27&page=)  

    Nawae Waqt, Editorial, August 4, 2009
    Provide all resources for developing indigenous nuclear submarine: Nawa-e-Waqt
    Quoting military sources, the Nawa-e-Waqt Urdu daily in its editorial says that following the launch of a nuclear submarine by India, the Pakistan Atomic Commission and Pak Navy should jointly undertake the project of developing its own nuclear submarine. The editorial says that “after launching its nuclear submarine India has also started work on another two submarines and therefore we also have a right to develop such a defence against our enemies.” The newspaper urges the government to make available all the resources to the Pakistan Atomic Commission and the Pak Navy for timely completion of the project.
    (http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper -daily-urdu-online/Opinions/Editorials/04-Aug-2009/3461)

    Ummat Urdu Daily, Editorial, August 5, 2009
    Political parties should rise above personal interests to uphold supremacy of constitution: Ummat
    Against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s verdict that to register a case against Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution, the apex court would need approval from the parliament, the Ummat daily in its editorial says that “the ball now is in Parliament’s court and it has to prove that it is also independent like the judiciary.” The daily opines that though the court has given 120 days to adopt a resolution to pave the way for registering a case against Musharraf for treason, “if the leaders of all political parties wish, the resolution against Musharraf can be adopted in 20 days.” The paper says that “all the political parties should rise above their political considerations and personal interests to uphold the supremacy of the constitution so that the democratic future of the country can be safeguarded.”
    http://www.ummatpublication.com/2009/08/05/idr01.html

    Azkar Urdu Daily, Editorial, August 5, 2009
    Case against Musharraf, a ploy to deflect attention from people’s real issues: Azkar
    Commenting on the Supreme Court’s verdict on Musharraf the left leaning Azkar daily says that people want a solution to real issues such as, lawlessness, unemployment, corruption and load shedding, but they do not see any action by the government. So the ruling class is wary that the people may come on the street to press for their demands. The present system of government has been unable to resolve the above mentioned problems and they realize that to restore confidence of the people in the government let us do something which the people have not seen earlier. So they are thinking about implicating Mushharaf for breaching Article 6 of the Constitution. The editorial questions whether a case against Musharraf will resolve basic issues of the common people? The newspaper says that people will not forget their basic problems and solutions to these problems on a permanent basis can only satisfy them.
    (http://www.dailyazkaar.com.pk/new/detail.php?category=13643&category_id=27&page=)

    Al akhbar Urdu Daily, Editorial, August 5, 2009
    Keep in touch with moderate forces in Afghanistan to minimize Indian influence there: Al Akhbar
    Ahead of the Presidential election in Afghanistan, Al-Akhbar daily in its editorial writes that India is supporting the candidature of former foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and says that “if a pro-Indian wrests the power in Afghanistan, it will create further problems for us”. The newspaper advises the government of Pakistan to be in touch with moderate forces in Afghanistan and to minimize the influence of India in Afghanistan the government should invite the Presidential candidates to discuss Pak-Afghan future relations. The newspaper says that to end India’s intervention in Pakistan’s western border, cooperation of Afghanistan is necessary.  The paper says that “as regards to the security challenges on the Eastern border and the so called peace, Pakistan should not succumb to any pressure. It should not pin much hope on resumption of peace talks. If India does not understand the need for talks then it should not be a priority issue for Pakistan either.”
    (http://www.alakhbar.com.pk/Idaria.asp?today=8/5/2009)

    Jinnah Urdu Daily, Editorial, August 9, 2009
    Do not show flexibility on Kashmir: Jinnah Urdu Daily
    Commenting on Foreign Minister Rahman Malik’s statement in which he said that “the Kashmir issue is a complex issue and its resolution is not easy and steps should be taken to provide relief to the Kashmiris. The Jinnah Urdu daily states that “the statement by the Foreign Minister, indicates that Pakistan is very eager for resumption of composite dialogue process and is willing to keep Kashmir issue in abeyance for that.” The editorial opines that “by saying that the Kashmir issue is a complex issue, it can not be pushed to the backburner. The government should not show flexibility on Kashmir. The previous government also showed flexibility but could not succeed in achieving any thing.” The editorial says that until India maintains relations with Israel and the US it would not show any sincerity in resolving the Kashmir issue. The newspaper states that after de-linking terrorism from the dialogue process at Sharm el- Sheikh, India has backed tracked on its statement. It shows its obstinate face.
    (http://www.dailyjinnah.com/?p=23080)

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