2. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in his weekly briefing, said   the Durand Line issue had been settled with Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan’s nuclear programme was defensive. He also clarified that New Delhi has not contacted Pakistan regarding joining the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project. (Jang)

3. Taliban reportedly killed 81 allied forces including 21 American troops in various operations in Afghanistan. (Al Qalam Weekly, 10 May to 16 May)

INDIA
1.Pakistan has asked India to ensure security of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails. The Foreign Office spokesperson said that there were about 500 to 600 Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails, of whom 47 had completed their terms. (Urdupoint

2.  Another Pakistani prisoner Abdul Jabbar was brutally attacked in the notorious Tihar jail. Two capital punishment convicts Ranjit and Ajay Kumar attacked him with blades on his head and neck. Shockingly, instead of shifting Abdul Jabbar to a hospital, jail authorities were keeping him in the barracks and his condition was deteriorating. Abdul Jabbar had gone to India on a visitor’s visa in 2004 but he was put behind bars on fake allegations of spying. Though he had been sentenced for 3-4 years, he had not been released even after 9 years. (Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Roznama Duniya)

3. Political and religious leaders including Gen. (Retd) Hamid Gul have condemned the death of Sanaullah and demanded a befitting reply to India. Gul alleged that India was involved in terrorist acts during elections. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

4. Roznama Duniya’s edit on the killing of Sanaullah in Indian jail says now India had committed the same crime. However, in Pakistan, the attack on Sarabjit Singh was not pre-planned; it was just negligence on part of the jail officials that they kept a foreign terrorist along with other prisoners. Edit urges India to take action against the culprits and urges that both countries not let such incidents affect positive steps that have been taken toward restoring relations. (Roznama Duniya Edit)

5. Nawa-i-Waqt edit on Nawaz Sharif’s interview with CNN -IBN, says PML-N leader spoke about improving relations between India and Pakistan and of resolving all the issues through talks. Whether it was Benazir, Nawaz Sharif, Musharraf or Zardari, all had a common factor that they considered friendship with India more important than resolving the Kashmir issue which was the main cause of conflict between the two neighbours.   Sharif was no child that he didn’t understand what India has been doing with Pakistan and at a time when Pakistan is going to vote for the next elections, PML-N Chief seemed to be advocating for India. Edit says that Nawaz Sharif should understand the mood in Pakistan and tell people that in what time and how he would be able to resolve the Kashmir issue. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

6. Khabrain edit on Nawaz Sharif’s interview to Indian television criticised the PML-N leader saying  that on one hand, the Pakistani community and political parties are making efforts to combat terrorism, and on the other hand, the Indian security forces were carrying out firing at the LoC and creating panic in the areas next to LoC. (Khabrain Edit)

7.  JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed has asked the Pakistan government to order an immediate inquiry into the murder of Sanaullah in an Indian jail and to stop all trade and consular relations with India. (Baad-e-Shimal)

DEFENCE
1. ISPR spokesperson Major Gen. Asim Salim has said that in response to the Election Commission’s letter to Gen. Kayani, Kayani has issued instructions to deploy military squads at sensitive areas and polling stations to control law and order. (Jang, Urdupoint, Roznama Duniya)

2. EDIT writes about Gen. Kayani urging law enforcement agencies to ensure fool-proof security for peaceful elections. He asked the public to go out to vote without any fear as there would be action where ever it sees a threat, even though the Army will not be deployed inside the polling stations. He said that in Punjab, apart from 32,000 Army soldiers and officers, 3 lakh security personnel have been appointed. (Jang Edit)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. 1. Police arrested Qari Salman along with his companion from Kabirwala. He was associated with LeJ in the past but now he is under scanner for links with TTP. (Ummat)

2. BBC has got a copy of the letter TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsood had sent to TTP spokesperson listing the plan of suicide attacks in all 4 provinces on Election Day. (Roznama Duniya)

3. In his column, JI Chief Sayyed Munawar Hassan writes that Allah has instructed people to choose honest people and writes that after 5 years, people had again got an opportunity to choose honest and faithful people. Hassan writes that unfortunately, in Pakistan’s history, leaders have looted the masses; he alleged that while the people were suffering from floods, leaders were busy visiting UK and France. Hassan refers to revolutions in Middle Eastern Muslim countries and writes that this had impressed upon Muslims that they could change tyrant regimes through the power of votes. He states that they were going to witness similar changes in Pakistan too. Hassan said that if JI comes to power, it will establish close ties with Islamic countries, and will strengthen ties with China. Hassan says that it was part of their manifesto to establish joint markets, defence and Parliament, bringing all Muslim countries together and adds that liberation of Kashmir would be the main pillar of JI’s foreign policy.  Hassan says that they strongly believe that sacrifices of Kashmiris will not go waste and that it was their duty to continue political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. (Jasarat)

4. Al Murabitun held a student convention under ‘Bazm-e-Yousufi’ in Karachi’s Jamia Masjid Batah. On walls of mosques, banners and flags were displayed which carried important quotations on jihad from books of Maulana Azhar Masood. A  team of mujahideen was deployed for security and all arrangements of the convention were carried out by Maulana Amir and Maulana Shahzad Ahmed Rashid. The convention was started after the Namaz of Magrib (Evening Prayers) in which JeM speaker Maulana Ataullah Sakarvi exposed the false claims of politicians that they didn’t believe in elections but in a revolution. Sakarvi said that the revolution will come only through jihad and stated that the death of Osama Bin Laden was a message for them that world powers wanted to eliminate jihad. He claimed that the US was being destroyed and was preparing to leave from Afghanistan; he said that the statement of Mullah Omer about the US coming to Afghanistan by its will and leaving by Taliban’s will is coming true.  Maulana Khadim Qasmi, in-charge of Al Murabitun, spoke on the role that ‘Al Murabitun’ was playing in madaris and colleges. Shields were awarded to students who performed well in academics and in the promotion of emotions of jihad. In the end, poems were recited about the patron of JeM Maulana Yousuf Ludhiyanvi Shahid and Amirul Mujahideen Maulana Azhar Masood.  (Al Qalam Weekly, 10 May to 16 May)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that PTI was the only party discussing negotiations with Taliban to maintain peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Qureshi said that PTI had its own ideology, just like Taliban, but there were no such hitches in Islam. He added that PTI could join the coalition government. (Bang-e-Sahar, Roznama Duniya)

2. Federal Interior Minister Malik Habib claimed that the government has made fool-proof security arrangements to ensure peaceful elections. He said that along with extra police personnel deployed at sensitive polling booths in Punjab and other provinces, Army personnel will also be deployed. (Jasarat)

3. Roznama Duniya editorial has expressed concern over the continued target killings and attacks by extremists on political candidates. As per report by Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, from the time election activities have started, 110 people have been killed and over 270 have been injured. (Roznama Duniya Edit)

4.  Former PM Yusuf Reza Gilani has said powers involved in attacking liberal parties were involved in the kidnapping of his son. (Ausaf)

5. Hinting that MQM is not going to accept the election results, its Rabta Committee members said that disturbances are being created in order to appease one religious party. They also said that attempts are being made to take away MQM’s mandate in the polls. (Ibrat)

6. Imtiaz Alam’s writes the major contenders in Punjab are PML-N and PTI. He says PPP that has been harping only on its sacrifices in the past seems to be campaigning more for PML(N) than for itself in Punjab while Imran Khan is all out in his attempts to dethrone the Sharif brothers in Punjab. The writer also believes that PPP has been hurt by not having any Bhutto to campaign with them. Imran Khan’s popularity is due to three reasons. One  people are tired off PPP and PML-N; two both parties are not allowing new faces to come up because of their dynastic leadership; three the need for the emergence of a new and young leadership that the country’s youth could rally behind. The writer states that Imran Khan is unlikely to sweep the elections but he may be able to cripple the PML-N if Nawaz Sharif does not win more than 100 seats from Punjab even if Sharif becomes PM. And if Khan manages to extend his election gains beyond Punjab to KP, then he might surprise everyone. In the event of a hung parliament, Imran Khan may play the deciding factor. (Awami Awaz)

7. Kawish says the promises of providing a security blanket for peaceful elections stands exposed with the kidnapping of former PM Gilani’s son. (Kawish Edit)

8.In his analysis, Ansar Abbasi points out that Nawaz Sharif, who is being considered as the next PM, has upset people by his pro-India comments on Kargil operation and Mumbai attacks. He says like PTI and PPP, Sharif has also avoided Kashmir in his election campaign. (Jang)

9. In his column, Irfan Siddiqui writes that it would be wrong to give sympathy votes to Imran Khan. He alleges that PPP is supporting PTI against PML-N. (Jang)

10. In his column, Nazir Naji is critical of Tahir ul Qadri’s protest against voters. (Roznama Duniya)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. NAB has arrested former WAPDA chairman, Lt. Gen (Retd.) Zahid Ali Akbar from Bosnia on corruption charges and unaccounted assets. (Jang, Urdupoint, Roznama Duniya)

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Taliban have distributed pamphlets in Miranshah to stop women from casting votes. (Urdupoint, Jinnah)

SINDH
1.  JI Karachi will demonstrate today in front of the provincial Election Commission office against what it termed as the bias of EC, non-deployment of Army, no steps to stop pre-poll rigging, and giving a free hand to MQM and attacks on JI candidates.  (Jasarat, Ummat)

2. PPP and ANP have agreed on seat adjustment for 6 constituencies in Karachi. (Roznama Duniya)

3. PML-F supporters fired on a PPP candidate’s rally at Khapro, Sindh. Later several PPP supporters protested against the firing and the police registered case against three PML-F members. (Awami Awaz)

4. Ishaq Dar’s writes that the 10-party alliance, which has now become 14-party alliance, in Sindh is being supported by a majority of Sindh’s civil society including writers, journalists, literary forums, and thinkers’ forums. For the first time PPP does not have an issue like Benazir’s martyrdom to seek peoples’ vote. Adding to the party’s woes, its big leaders are nowhere to be seen canvassing for party candidates and for the first time the party has not been able to hold any major election meeting thus far. (Ibrat)

PUNJAB
1. In an operation in Mangopir, Karachi, CID has arrested 5 TTP terrorists and seized weapons and hand grenades from them. (Jang)

2. There is a threat of terrorist attack on 14 polling stations in Karachi. (Roznama Duniya)

3. ‘Mutiur Rahman Group (MRG) could be behind kidnapping Ali Haider Gilani, son of former PM Gilani, sources said. MRG shifted its loyalties from LeJ to TTP and there is information that MRG also has connections with Al Qaeda. MRG has got a team of youth from South Punjab who is capable of carrying out any operation. MRG had carried out similar activities in the past and was specialized in abduction for ransom. This group has recruited boys from Multan and Khanwal and they are not short of safe havens in adjacent areas of Multan. MRG is in-charge of TTP in South Punjab. Another group, the group of Qari Yasin of Qasur, could also carry out a similar operation; though it is an old outfit it is weak when compared to MRG. A few new groups have also come into existence in Multan but nobody had data about them, sources said. (Ummat)

4. Terrorists fired at the vehicle of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat leader in Korangi. (Jang, Roznama Duniya)

PUNJAB
1.Punjab Interior Department has issued a written advisory to political leaders asking them to curtail their activities in view of threat of attacks from terrorists. (Urdupoint)

POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Current fiscal year for Gilgit-Baltistan will end in the next 2 months but the federal government has failed to provide even half of the budget money earmarked for development works. (Bang-e-Sahar)

2. Bang-e-Sahar edit disputes Gilgit-Baltistan CM Mehdi Shah’s claim of not being involved in corruption. . According to Mehdi Shah, people targeting him for corruption were the kingpins of corruption. It is Shah’s mistake that he did not take any action against such crooks. Shah could never dare to take action against his predecessors as he was in the same pool. Edit writes that CM Mehdi Shah should stop talking nonsense as people were not happy with his attitude. (Bang-e-Sahar Edit)

3. Baad-e-Shimal says that due to delay in the release of non-development budget, the Gilgit-Baltistan government was facing lots of problems. Edit says that the government needed Rs. 6 billion for non-development expenses and only Rs. 2 billion had been given by the federal government. Edit says it was necessary for the government to stop unnecessary expenses as procuring funds from the federal government in the current situation would be quite difficult. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)

4. Baad-e-Shimal edit says poor law and order situation in Gilgit-Baltistan ha affected the tourism industry. Edit says that tourism could change the fate of Gilgit-Baltistan and hence, everyone should support the administration in improving the situation in Gilgit-Baltistan. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)