Daily Press Summary

Daily Press Summary (Friday, October 24, 2008)

SIGNIFICANT NEWS REPORTS:

Lead Stories:

The reports about Government‘s decision to defer the recent hike in electricity prices, US drones’ attack on Jalaluddin Haqqani’s seminary in Miranshah and President Zardari’s assurance to businessmen and traders to cut in prices of petroleum products and electricity tariff hit the banner headlines of the print media today.

President:

Ø President Zardari says, cut in petroleum products prices and power tariff soon; last government misused remittances: Remarks during meeting with traders and businessmen. (All papers)

Ø Fazal-ur-Rehman meets President Zardari; discusses the country’s political situation and implementation of Parliament’s consensus resolution. (Nawa-e-Waqt, Azkaar)

Ø President Zardari says, only proactive approach can help in reducing impacts of natural and man-made disasters: Comments during meeting with Chairman National Disaster Management Authority. (All papers)

Ø President Zardari says, schemes for optimal utilization of irrigation water need to be devised urgently: Address after a presentation on drip irrigation by Amin Lakhani, a prominent businessman. (Daily Times, Express)

Prime Minister:

Ø PM Gilani arrives in Beijing to attend the Asia Europe Meeting Summit; was received by senior officials of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Pakistan’s Ambassador Masood Khan. (All papers)

Ø PM Gilani says, his China’s visit to open new vistas of cooperation in diversified fields for the benefit of the people of the two friendly countries: Statement on arrival in Beijing. (News)

Ø PM Gilani says, his talks with world leaders in China to focus on the economic situation in Pakistan, and about the Friends of Pakistan Forum: Interaction with Press Reporters at Chaklala Airbase before leaving for Beijing. (News)

Government:

Ø Government suspends 31 pc increase in power tariff; panel set up to look into power tariff increase: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s press briefing; apologizes to nation over power crisis. (All papers)

Ø Edible oil prices may be slashed during the next three or four days: Manzoor Wattoo. (News)

Ø Information Minister Sherry Rehman says, consensus resolution is a historic achievement and a milestone in the parliamentary history; Parliament has a strong resolve to root out terrorism from the country; congratulates the nation over the passage of resolution; expresses deep grief and sorrow over the death of renowned poet Javed Shaheen. (Majority of papers)

Ø $4.5 billion needed within 30 days to build up reserves; recourse to IMF last option; formal request to be made to IMF after November 15: Shaukat Tareen. (All papers)

Ø State Bank Governor leaves for Dubai to attend IMF meeting. (News)

Ø Government decides to release 50,000 tons of sugar in the market to check price hike. (All papers)

Ø Government owes Rs.140 billion to gas, fuel suppliers and IPPs: Sources in the Water and Power Ministry. (Daily Times)

Ø Pakistan takes up Kharif water loss with India; Pak-India talks on Chenab water begin in New Delhi. (All papers)

Ø Government finalizes 5-year Petroleum Policy for exploration of oil and gas to meet the growing need of energy in the country: Sources. (Pak. Observer)

Ø Pakistan and India to hold talks on joint anti-terror mechanism in New Delhi today (Friday). (All papers)

Ø Lust for lucrative Ministries delays Cabinet expansion: Report. (News, Jang)

Judiciary:

Ø SC vacates SHC stay order against the Competition Commission of Pakistan. (News)

Ø Petition filed in IHC seeking Musharraf’s eviction from Army House; possession of farmhouse also challenged in IHC. (All papers)

Ø Legal fraternity observes complete boycott of courts and stages protest rallies for the restoration of deposed CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry and his other deposed colleagues; Rana Bhagwan Das also addresses the lawyers in Lahore. (All papers

Political:

Ø Amin Fahim says, he is not a part of the government. (All papers)

Ø The unanimous resolution passed by the Parliament clear message for Zardari, US: JI Senator Khurshid Ahmed. (Daily Times)

Ø PML-N warns against politicking on resolution; Ch. Nisar urges the government to honour joint Parliament’s resolution. (All papers)

Ø Pervez Musharraf has assigned Hamid Nasir Chattha and Humayun Akhtar to dislodge the Chaudhrys of Gujrat from their pivotal positions in PML-Q; some old friends of Musharraf from PML-Q were advising him to join politics, as he was growing popular among masses: Well placed sources, reports Irfan Bukhari. (Nation)

News Analysis:

Ø Dr. A. Q. Khan challenges Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman to share the names of those 47 new full-fledged universities with the nation, which he claimed to have set up after spending billions of taxpayers’ money in his capacity as the Chairman, Higher Education Commission, reports Rauf Klasra. (News, Jang)

Ø PML-Q to split further in case of its amalgamation with the PML-N; a new League faction headed by Hamid Nasir Chattha is going to emerge as a result: PML-Q, reports Tariq Butt. (News, Jang)

Ø The government did not agree to any timeframe for the implementation of the consensus resolution on terrorism despite opposition’s insistence, reports Ansar Abbasi. (News, Jang)

Ø Pakistan will have to cut its defence budget by 30 per cent in the next four years if it agrees to the IMF conditions for the bailout package now being discussed in Dubai between the two sides, says a document containing the IMF condition, reports Mazhar Tufail. (News)

Ø Shaukat Tareen was blasted in the last parliamentary party meeting of the PPP in the presence of PM Gilani recently by angry MPs from Sindh because Tareen had contemptuously called the poverty stricken farmers as the “holy cows” of Pakistan, considered by the PPP MPs as the core of their vote bank in Sindh and southern Punjab, reports Rauf Klasra. (News)

Ø Pak-Saudi relations hit all-time low; hunting ground withdrawal annoys Saudi rulers, reports Afzal Bajwa. (Nation)

Foreign:

Ø EU welcomes reopening of trade route along LoC. (News)

Ø US Embassy Spokesman says, he is unaware of NA resolution on terrorism; UK High Commission welcomes NA resolution. (News)

Ø ‘Fewer fighters slipping into Afghanistan’: Pentagon; welcomes ‘stepped-up operations’ by Pakistan. (News, Nation, Daily Times, Nawa-e-Waqt)

Economy:

Ø World Bank has agreed to consider providing financial and technical support for Pakistan’s plan for dealing with the current energy crisis. (Dawn)

Ø Pakistan needs funding from the IMF in order to get its economy back on track after problems were ignored during a transition to civilian rule this year: Dr. Ishrat Hussain. (Business Recorder)

Ø Over 1200 Pakistanis have more than two million dollars each in foreign banks and deposits abroad: Official sources, reports Akhtar Jamal. (Pak. Observer)

Defence:

Ø Two US drones’ attack on Jalaluddin Haqqani’s seminary in Miramshah kills ten and wounds three people. (All papers)

Ø Taliban infiltrating from Afghanistan: FC, IG Gen. Tariq Khan; claims, Bajaur Agency would be cleared of Taliban by end of November. (Daily Times)

Ø Tribal Lashkars to be armed with Chinese weapons; Zardari finalized deal in China visit: Washington Post. (Dawn, News, Daily Times, Express)

Ø About 25 US military instructors start training of FC men in Pakistan: A US military official. (Daily Times)

Ø ISI chief to visit Washington this weekend for meetings with CIA’s Director Michael V. Hayden: Diplomatic sources. (Dawn, News, Khabrain, Ausaf, Azkaar)

Ø Security forces kill 35 militants in Bajaur operation; curfew clamped in several areas. (Dawn, News)

Terrorism:

Ø 8 Jirga members killed in Orakzai. (News)

Ø Bomb blast kills five kids in Azam Warsak area, 30 kilometres off Wana, headquarters of South Waziristan Agency. (Dawn, News)

Provinces:

Ø NWFP Government to stand by peace accord with tribesmen: Owais Ghani. (News)

Ø NWFP prepares draft of Local Government Act 2008 reducing women seats in the General Council by 50 percent and voters age from 25 year to 21 year: Geo News. (Daily Times)

Ø Writ establishment, development top priorities: NWFP CM. (Daily Times)

ACTIONABLE ITEMS

Recommended Action by:

Ø

Deposed CJ, 14 judges not paid 4-month salaries: Sources. (News, Jang, Al-Akhbar)

M/o Finance

M/o Law & Justice

Ø

Crop loan insurance scheme hits snags. (Dawn)

M/o Finance

M/o MINFAL

Ø

New Petroleum Policy ignores downstream oil industry-refineries, oil marketing companies and pipeline companies, refining, marketing and distribution: Oil Companies Advisory Committee. (Dawn)

M/o Petroleum & NR

Ø

Angry c

Posted on: 24-October-2008

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