The Daily PakistanPolitics Sept 16-30, 2013

• Sept30-2013--three lyari gangwar suspects arrested from wah
  
• Sept30-2013--six militants killed in north waziristan drone attack from aafghanistan
  
• Sept30-2013--powerful car bomb kills 43 in qissa khwani bazaar in peshawar among were eighteen people from a single charsadda family
  
• Sept30-2013--Nawaz Sharif and manmohan singh unable to achieve anything and say dgmo's asked to stop firing across teh LOC which was initiated by india and seen as a political maneouvre to subdue teh already pro indian nawaz sharif...nawaz sharif said recently in a pathetic statement that teh 560 billion spent on teh armed forces could be used for helping out teh poor...? and earlier he spent teh entire development budget on IPP payments..many suggest the pakistanis maybe getting desperate to get manmohan singh relected as both aspiring opponents are even more anti pakistan...while others suggest that the PMLn maybe closer to hindu nationalists than teh anti ISI congress
  
• Sept29-2013--Nawaz Sharif's indian friendship results in manmohan singh's reiteration that pakistan is epicenter of terrorism while india aids and abets all internal subversion in pakistan
  
• Sept29-2013--four Fc men and five baloch militants killed in panjgur clash
  
• Sept29-2013--TTP preconditions of release of prisoners, army withdrawal and stoppage of drone attacks too much for weak nawaz regime...
  
• Sept29-2013--dawn says swat TTP carried out attack on malakand major general's military vehicle
  
• Sept29-2013--another 7 earthquake jolts awaran killing 15
  
• Sept29-2013--four policemen killed in karachi's apparent mqm retaliatory gun and grenade attacks
  
• Sept28-2013--problems mount in relief distribution in awaran as supplies seem limited..deaths rise to 515... government has no system of dropping supplies over a vast region with people in trouble all over teh place
  
• Sept28-2013--blast in a bus kills 19 government employees on their way to their villages in charsadda
  
• Sept28-2013--one killed in armed clash between rival taleban groups in karachi...
  
• Sept28-2013--with little or no breakthru expected with teh indians many have been urging nawaz sharif to fly back to handle the problems back home...nawaz sharif has already belittled any possible negotiations with india and suggested that old chronic problems be handled by teh UN...!
  
• Sept28-2013--As problems mounted in teh awaran earthquake zone with little or no help getting thru nawaz sharif explained his taleban policy in new york...saying that they opposed drone attacks...considered a sop to teh taleban and were willing to negotiate an end to taleban terror tactics...with numerous groups engaged in terrorism many doubt that the taleban are left with any real control on teh issue...however teh almost continuous attacks by teh taleban have forced nawaz sharif to clarify that in such a situation the government will have to again use force and order the armed forces to go after teh taleban...many are looking at the situation after a taleban reconciliation...teh taleban still armed will literally takeover teh fata and could start to overrun teh civilian areas as well..najam sethi has argued that if no negotiations materialize by end october teh government will fall back on its previous tactics of forceful or army/FC led subjugation attempts...
  
• Sept27-2013--The PCB shows some initiative in bringing new fast bowlers ahmed jamal and imran khan into contention as well as prolific batsman akbar ur rehman but they donot drop failures mohammed hafeez and asad shafiq...an exciting pakistan A sqaud led by umar amin could feature new openers shan masood and ahmed shezad and new batsmen sohaib masood and akbar ur rehman...and new fast bowlers ahmed jamal and imran khan...they also squeeze in abdul qadirs son sulaiman qadir who at twenty is yet to play first class cricket...many feel that muhammed hafeez is incapable as a test opener and it would be best to try out ahmed shezad or even shan masood...khurram manzoor seems to have a terrible front foot defensive style which would be easy prey for steyn...
  
• Sept27-2013--The SC urges early local polls...KP says it is setting up 8000 village councils and its elections will be delayed..Sindh says Nov 27, balochistan Dec 7 and punjab Dec 14...The SC joked about teh cantonment local body polls which are controlled by teh military at present while teh PMLn wants a civilian run structure in islamabad and teh cantonments
  
• Sept27-2013--In balochistan militants fire rockets at a ministerial helicopter in teh earthquake zone...as the opposition in the national assembly goes up in flames as they are called tamasha's ...The PPP finding it extremely difficult to play a downtrodden and maligned political party and showing signs of a lack of maturity even in times of trouble
  
• Sept27-2013--In what many see as a reaction to terrorist events where militants have decided to react against opposing regimes... 10 are killed in occupied kashmir as militants attack a police station and an army base...three militants also killed...indians blame teh incidents on pakistani infiltrators and say they killed 10 others from a group of 30...the incident seems timed to help manmohan singh and subdue nawaz sharif who many say edged out teh iranian and indians to a meeting in teh white house...Rouhani many say has backed out from a quick normalisation of relations and many suggest things could improve between iran and the USA after negotiations over teh next six months...given teh indian nature and attitude it can hardly have any effect on negotiations with pakistan as teh indians play hot and cold all the time while militants create a situation every few years given their weaknesses in military strength and manpower
  
• Sept26-2013--Jehangir Tareen becomes PTI secretary general
  
• Sept26-2013--Hamza Shahbaz starts acting as de facto deputy chief minister as shahbaz sharif knocked out with a back ache...many suggest that he will force teh government to start working...?
  
• Sept26-2013--taleban kill 3, kidnap two in under construction dam in mohmand and set fire to machinery
  
• Sept26-2013--awaran earthquake leaves over 328 dead with over 300000 affected by destroyed homes...methane islands pop up on balochistan coastline after quake
  
• Sept26-2013--dollar reaches Rs. 109.5 in teh open market...!
  
• Sept26-2013--Imran Khan suggests that the taleban be allowed to open an office...while mullah samiulhaq who is now the leading supporter of the taleban suggests that peace will reign in pakistan within ten days of its stopping its war on terror...at the moment there are not many takers for even negotiations with teh taleban
  
• Sept26-2013--while Obama could not run away from home to bomb syria...Nawaz Sharif has chosen teh right time to run away from suicide blasts and earthquakes...The NDMA suggests that earthquake victims help themselves...?Obama many suggest is trying tobe a primeminister rather than a president...Nawaz Sharif's dwindling hair is in teh news as many suggest that there are many nawaz sharifs with different types of hair in karachi, islamabad and new york and his orange makeup in a recent Tv appearance...!...others suggest that he is getting more hair plugs wherever he gets the chance...!
  
• Sept25-2013--general or lt. general Ziauddin Butt another infamous ISI chief wants compensation for being removed illegally by General Musharaf and release of his pension and confiscated properties...Musharaf apparently had him locked up in an office of the infamous Brigade 111 for two years
  
• Sept25-2013--shells fired from afghanistan kill two in north waziristan
  
• Sept25-2013--a university setup by pakistans defence establishment Nust fines girl students for wearing jeans, tights and not wearing dupattas
  
• Sept25-2013--massive 7.7 earthquake in balochistan causes widespread loss of life and house destruction in the Awaran region...deaths expected to reach into the hundreds
  
• Sept23-2013--Mullah Baradar who teh afghans expect to rely on to talk peace to Mullah Omer is at present based in karachi...
  
• Sept23-2013--The SC is told that interior minister is talking to 50 taleban prisoners offering them immunity or release enmass and that the interior minister should be fired...!
  
• Sept24-2013--christians protest peshawar blast as chaudhry Nisar said the church will be repaired...many see the country as still unprepared and forgetful of teh continuous terrorism of teh last five years...terrorism has not been against any one particular group and has hit almost everyone...many see teh protests of teh minority groups as if they are living in a vacuum...government continues to use terrorism to divide and rule...some of teh protests were of a violent nature and one was killed in karachi in a clash between two groups as a house was set on fire...
  
• Sept24-2013--CII refuses to amend blasphemy law...as opponents continue to protest but refuse to abide by teh rules of respect for religions
  
• Sept24-2013--roadside blast in pishin kills six including three policemen
  
• Sept23-2013--four killed in blast at LI office near landikotal...19 die in swat due to dengue...!
  
• Sept23-2013--Rangers pickup eight hitmen from mirpus khas and continue their drive in karachi arresting another 27
  
• Sept23-2013--two suicide blasts at a popular church in peshawar kill 78...an area where there has been no anti christian sentiment in the past as pukhtuns mostly rely on internal or anti punjabi rivalry...dawn says a wing of teh taleban claims responsibility and reasons that such actions will only stop when US/afghanistan stop drone attacks...in apparent coincidence a drone attack at almost teh same time kills six in north waziristan...many suggest that such attacks will hurt the free wheeling sentiments of nawaz sharif who said he would be friendly whatever teh enemies attitudes...in teh region...however media sentiments and negative christian reactions showed an anti PTI stance emerging with one christian calling for international actions
  
• Sept22-2013--If the nadra report on some polling stations of NA-258 is anything to go by finger prints cannot be used to verify actuality of votes as most finger prints are not clear enough...however teh rest of teh report shows clear irregularities of around 7000 votes in the 36000 checked...there were over 50 votes in which teh thumb imprint was of another person...repolling could therefore be ordered even though the report does not suggest which candidate used irregular methods
  
• Sept22-2013--The army chief says that they have no intention of leaving swat and that probably goes for malakand areas as well...The PHC had suspended teh withdrawal of teh army from malakand suggesting clear laws to handle teh situation first...
  
• Sept22-2013--Mullah Baradar freed...however apart from the gesture there is little to suggest that he could be a useful go between for the afghan's
  
• Sept22-2013--nawaz sharif rejects ajmal mian for NAB chief and suggests Justice(r) Ejaz Chaudhry
  
• Sept21-2013--an FIR has been lodged against mqm mna nabil gabol for the murder of zafar baloch alongwith four others
  
• Sept21-2013--Ajmal Mian a controversial former chief justice tobe NAB chief says teh Dawn...
  
• Sept21-2013--gunmen attack a PTI office in teh jalozai camp killing one near nowshera
  
• Sept21-2013--The sindh rangers and an SC bench express satisfaction at teh karachi operation as cabinet allows rangers to shoot at terrorists...sindh police says there are a huge number of absconders in karachi
  
• Sept21-2013--two more major generals promoted as lieutenant generals which many suggest shows teh growing power of the CGS...many feel that it is almost certain that Rashad Mahmood will be teh next COAS however teh next important appointment coming up is that of CJC's...and many feel that either imran aslam or raheel shareef will get that position...some suggest that rashad mahmood may have teh ear of nawaz sharif and that he may already be maneouvring the countries politics
  
• Sept20-2013--a sector incharge of teh mqm nadim hashmi released...some suggest that such arrests usually take place when undercover operatives refuse to cooperate...mqm as usual had started a hue and cry and their governor also ran away
  
• Sept20-2013--police shoot and kill two near hawksbay while another four killed in teh Orangi area...reports suggest that two killed by police were in custody although police say that they refused to stop and were riding a stolen motorbike...
  
• Sept20-2013--TTP says war with pakistan army ongoing and no talks have yet been conducted
  
• Sept20-2013--Ayman al zawahri urges caution in attacking other sects and religions and not to destroy relations with areas where they might work safely...!
  
• Sept20-2013--12 suspects arersted in Hub for setting nato oil tankers on fire while at least ten miscreants from karachi were handed over to karachi police
  
• Sept20-2013--Chaudhry Nisar says while a ceasefire exists on teh political level with teh taleban...talks have grinded to a halt...the taleban mistakenly believe that fighting teh pakistan army is either appreciated or approved by teh people of pakistan...
  
• Sept20-2013--man killed in karachi imambargah grenade attack
  
• Sept20-2013--In an interesting observation teh DG rangers tells the SC he did not accuse the mqm minister of ports and shipping directly of smuggling weapons...however weapons of different types from china, uSA, russia, india and israel are surfacing in karachi with most of teh mqm armed with chinese pistols and their killers with kalashnikovs...so this is highly surprising to assume that they donot come by sea...since the darra adamkhel area is literally under seige there will be few gun manufacturers producing guns...and there are 39 fishing ports along teh coastline...
  
• Sept19-2013--rawalpindi city government bans gas cylinders in seating areas of public vans...the danger has caused many a fire in many vehicles and small suzuki vans used to transport students install gas cylinders inside teh seating area that are regarded as dangerous...protests leave many a traveller and student stranded...small private schools have proliferated which use small suzuki vans to transport children which have huge gas cylinders visible in their seating areas...
  
• Sept19-2013--Dollar reaches Rs.107 in teh open market
  
• Sept19-2013--Shabaz Sharif who seems to have slowed down considerably is preparing to become primeminister says teh PTI and has forgotten that he has to deal with teh punjab...
  
• Sept19-2013--The PMln and taleban seem tobe suggesting that the talks with politicians are on while a war goes on with the army....
  
• Sept19-2013--The PTI easily wins NA25 where by-eletions were postponed and was vacated by teh countries most famous mullah Fazlur rehman
  
• Sept19-2013--The Afghan army fired on a border village in Zhob killing five including a women...the afghans suggested that they fired on taleban militants although that does not explain the cross border provocation
  
• Sept19-2013--Mahmood Khan Achakzai regarded by many as a serious politician suggests that karachi's problems are due to teh disenfranchisement of all ethnic groups but one...the mqm a mohajir grouping barely gets alongwith any other ethnic group and has not been able to calm the fears of other ethnicities and seems happy at teh continuous turmoil that is the basis of its strength...with only one ethnic group controlling karachis politics everybody else can only be onlookers...he suggests a lebenon type scenario where they have maronite christians, sunnis and shiites sharing power in a fragile coalition bedeviled by teh iranian supported hezbollah and pro syrian establishment...he also referred to karachi as a city of terrorists and called for a seperate assembly for Fata with an elected governor
  
• Sept19-2013--In a funnier aspect police say 14 karachi killers arrested from murree where they were staying in several hotels...
  
• Sept19-2013--a key component of teh outlawed Peoples Aman Committees Zafar Baloch shot dead by several motorcycle riders...with his bodyguard near Lyari...opposed only by teh mqm the inferences as to the killers are multiple...most regard the mqm as teh culprit while a few regard internal lyari opponents...The PPP rule has seen several lyari leaders killed with uzair baloch heading teh lyari aman committee now in jail...others rumour that the police release of an mqm leader might be teh trigger while many say teh PMLn leaders could have ordered a contract as could numerous other rich men...
  
• Sept17-2013-- Army chief general Kayani rejects TTP preconditions for talks while Imran Khan calls for a ceasefire...Kayani starts a program for cheap land distribution to senior officers as his retirement nears...
  
• Sept16-2013--In what may torpedo any talks or their outcome the taleban kill a major general, a lt colonel and a soldier in teh malakand area by a roadside bomb...teh KP government had recently announced teh withdrawal of troops from malakand which saw some heavy fighting a few years ago...four other security personnel were killed in bomb and rocket attacks in north waziristan and bannu...the taleban had earlier announced that they wanted the release of their prisoners and army withdrawal from tribal areas as a precondition for talks...talks are usually suspended whenever any side conducts an act of war...the army obviously will not back down from its actions given teh situation...only a mutual cessation of hostilities can have a positive effect
  
• Sept16-2013--twenty nato oil tankers catch fire near HUB...