PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 06, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000491

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 06, 2009

Summary: Reports of the ongoing parleys between the PPP and the
PML-N leaders through the mediators along with President Zardari's
reported "willingness to end governor's rule" in the Punjab
dominated headlines in all newspapers on Friday. Several major
newspapers highlighted reports that "U.S. lawmakers unveiled
legislation on ROZs (Reconstruction Opportunity Zones.)" All
dailies front-paged reports that "militants blew up the mausoleum of
a Pashto mystic poet" in Hazarkhwani area of the NWFP. Secretary of
State Clinton's statement from Brussels that "Pakistan is facing a
serious internal security threat" also received prominent coverage.


Most major dailies ran editorials on the current security situation
prevailing in the country in the backdrop of the political standoff
between the government and the PML-N. Commenting on the destruction
of the shrine in the NWFP, the English daily, "The News," termed it
"another indicator of the advancing wave of intolerance and
extremism that now engulfs us..." Whereas, the prestigious daily,
"Dawn," while criticizing the new agreement with Taliban, observed
that "it virtually amounts to handing over charge of Swat to Taliban
and allowing them to determine arbitrarily the distinction between
vice and virtue and impose their own values through an extrajudicial
system of vigilantes." On the contrary, the populist Urdu daily,
"Khabrain," opined that the "government has shown courage in Swat by
adopting the path of peace talks; the need now is to spread the
scope of these talks." End Summary.

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News Stories
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"Zardari Sees No Way to Iftikhar's Return" "The News" (03/06)

"President Asif Ali Zardari has shown his willingness to end
governor's rule in the Punjab and to let the majority party form
government in the province. However, he has not yielded on the
issue of the restoration of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad
Chaudhry."

"U.S. Lawmakers Unveil Bill On ROZs" "The Nation" (03/06)

"With President Barack Obama's backing, U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday
unveiled legislation aimed at using trade-spurred jobs growth as an
antidote to Islamist extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The
bill would give goods from certain restive parts of those countries
duty-free access to the U.S. market in a bid to promote legitimate
economic activity where poverty fuels terrorist recruitment and the
illegal drug trade."

"Time To Help Pakistan Is Now, Says U.S. Congressman" "Dawn"
(03/06)

"This summer the extremists may launch a new wave of violent attacks
in FATA and other areas of Pakistan, warned Congressman Chris Van
Hollen while advocating a combination of economic and military
measures to combat terrorism.... The bill to establish the
so-called Reconstruction Opportunity Zones enjoys unprecedented
bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. It is also
backed by the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon."

"White House OKs Pakistan Aid Proposal" "Business Recorder" (03/06)

"The Obama administration is backing a proposal initiated under
former President George W. Bush that would allow poor tribal regions
in Pakistan and Afghanistan to sell their clothing and similar goods
to U.S. buyers tax-free, said White House Advisor Paul Jones at a
Capitol Hill news conference."

"Militants Blow Up Rehman Baba's Shrine" "The News" (03/06)

"Unidentified miscreants blew up the mausoleum of the most-revered
mystic poet of the Pakhtun land Rehman Baba in the wee hours of
Thursday by planting four bombs inside the structure of the shrine.
The blast badly damaged the shrine of the 17th century Sufi poet."

"Pakistan Facing Serious Internal Threat: Hillary" "Daily Times"
(03/06)

"Calling the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore an
'eerie replica' of the Mumbai attacks, United States Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton has said Pakistan is facing a serious internal
security threat. Speaking at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in
Brussels, Clinton said a broad agreement had been reached on the
basic elements of a strategic review on the way forward for Pakistan
and Afghanistan."

"Clinton Seeks International Meeting On Afghanistan" "The News"
(03/06)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed on Thursday
a high-level international conference on Afghanistan to be sponsored
by the United Nations and attended by a wide range of countries
including Pakistan and NATO allies.... "

"U.S. May Invite Iran To Afghan Conference" "Dawn" (03/06)

"In its first public overture to Tehran, the United States intends
to invite Iran to an international conference on Afghanistan planned
for this month, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced on
Thursday."

"U.S. Praises Pakistani Police For Saving Sri Lankan Team" "Daily
Times" (03/06)

"The United States on Thursday praised Pakistani policemen for
saving the lives of the Sri Lankan cricketers, targeted by
terrorists in Lahore on Tuesday, State Department spokesman Gordon
Duguid said."

"Pakistan Bigger Problem Than Afghanistan: U.S. Envoy" "The News"
(03/06)

"The top U.S. diplomat in Kabul has warned that Pakistan poses a
bigger security problem for the rest of the world than Afghanistan,
in a newspaper interview published in London on Thursday.
Christopher Dell spoke after the Tuesday's attack on the Sri Lankan
cricket team and raised doubts about the government's ability to
tackle militancy."

"Commanders Discuss Security, Political Situation" "Daily Times"
(03/06)

"The army top brass on Thursday discussed the political and law and
order situation in the country, and regional security in a corps
commanders' meeting at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani chaired the
meeting."

"Investigators See LT Footprints In Lahore Attack" "Dawn" (03/06)

"Investigators are zeroing in on the footprints of the banned
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT),according to preliminary investigations by
the joint Investigation Team probing Tuesday's attack on Sri Lankan
cricketers at Lahore's Liberty Chowk."

"LT Has No Links With 3/3 Attack, Says Malik" "The News" (03/06)

"Prime Minister's Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik on Thursday said
that leads have suggested that the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba
(LT) and Lakhvi have no links with the attack on Sri Lankan cricket
team in Lahore."

"3/3 Attackers Identified, Says Taseer" "The Nation" "03/06)

"Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer told the media that the
investigation had reached tangible conclusions. We have identified
the people, who did the operation, and ambushed the Sri Lankan
cricket team. We have a lot of information, arrested many people,
and rounded up some suspects, but the final investigation will be
presented to me on Friday."

"NATO Uneasy Over Alternate Routes" "The News" (03/06)

"NATO officials appear helpless and badly stuck with Pakistan as all
their efforts to find alternate supply routes for their war goods
were running into bureaucratic roadblocks mainly in Central Asian
states. In background briefings to visiting Pakistani editors in
Brussels and Mons, the NATO military hub, officials downplay the
risks to their critical supplies while passing through the entire
mainland of Pakistan."

"EU Help Sought To Overcome Root Causes Of Terrorism" "Dawn"
(03/06)

"The Chairman of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign
Affairs Asfandyar Wali Khan said on Thursday that terrorism posed a
big threat to the world and was a major cause of instability in the
region. He called upon the West, especially the European Union, to
help Pakistan overcome the root causes of terrorism."

"Sufi Meets Fazlullah, Asks Taliban To Lay Down Arms" "Daily Times"
(03/06)

"Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) Chief Sufi Muhammad and
Swat Taliban Chief Mullah Fazlullah met at an undisclosed location
on Thursday to discuss the implementation of a Swat peace deal with
the government, according to sources. The sources said that Sufi
had firmly told Fazlullah to stop armed Taliban from patrolling
Mingora and other parts of Swat and lay down weapons immediately."

"Demands Of Solecki's Kidnappers To Be Probed" "The News" (03/06)

"Hours before a deadline set by kidnappers to kill a U.S. hostage
was due to expire on Thursday, the government announced that a
top-level committee would investigate the captors' demands, the
provincial government said in a statement on Thursday."

"One Killed, 19 Hurt In Dera Ismail Khan Mosque Attack" "The News"
(03/06)

"One person was killed and 19 others sustained injuries when a
hand-grenade hurled by unidentified miscreants at the worshippers
exploded in Ameer Hamza mosque on Circular Road on Thursday."

"Crackdown On Political Workers From Tomorrow" "The Nation" (03/06)

"Police authorities would launch a massive crackdown against leaders
and workers of anti-government political parties, including Pakistan
Muslim League (Nawaz),Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI),from tomorrow (Saturday),official sources
disclosed to 'The Nation' on Thursday. However, no decision has
been taken yet for the arrests of the lawyers, one of the sources
said."

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Editorials/Op-eds
--------------

"Dark Tides," an editorial in the centrist national English daily
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/06)

"The destruction of the Shrine of Rahman Baba, the Pashtun mystic
and poet who is widely regarded, indeed revered, across NWFP is yet
another indicator of the advancing wave of intolerance and extremism
that now engulfs us.... The deal done in Swat is a Pandora's Box of
troubles that now pour out everywhere. The validation of one set of
extremist demands now gives them the green light to make other
demands wherever they choose in the entire country where they wish
their writ to run. Let us be under no illusion here - the militants
now ruling in NWFP have their sights set on ruling Pakistan. All of
Pakistan."

"Betrayal Of Swat," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (03/06)

"The new agreement makes further concessions to the Taliban.... The
new understanding points to the problems that will be encountered in
the implementation of the agreement. It virtually amounts to
handing over charge of Swat to the Taliban and allowing them to
determine arbitrarily the distinction between vice and virtue and
impose their own values through an extrajudicial system of
vigilantes. Is this the form the Nizam-i-Adl is to take? Is the
state ready to abdicate its writ and allow the Taliban to take the
law into their hands?

"Time For Major Decision-Making," an editorial in the Lahore-based
populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (03/06)

"[The present government] has continued past policies against
terrorism. However, the government has shown courage in Swat by
adopting the path of peace talks; the need now is to spread the
scope of these talks to the tribal areas so that there is peace
everywhere. Simultaneously, AMERICA must be asked to review its
policies for a safe future of the region; and occupation forces must
be withdrawn immediately from Afghanistan."

"Security Forces & TNSM Deal," an editorial in the Islamabad-based
rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (03/06)

"One can understand the motives of Western media and non-Pakistani
commentators who present a negative picture of the deal because of
the word 'Islamic Sharia.' There is a need to explain them that it
is completely in line with our religion and provides quick and
inexpensive justice to the people. Irrespective of the foreign
pressure, Pakistan must take all the required steps to bring
stability in the troubled areas and safeguard its vital interests."

"Taliban And The Sharia," an op-ed by Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (03/06)

"The Pakistani government has agreed to allow the Swat authorities
to enforce Sharia law in the valley and the Malakand district. This
despite the fact that everyone knows how the Sharia law is
understood by the Taliban.... The Taliban, who opposed education
for girls, have after the Swat accord agreed to reopen their
schools. Does this mean they politicized the Sharia?... It is for
the Government of Pakistan to do justice to all its citizens. The
Taliban or any other agency should not be allowed to enforce a
medieval understanding of Islamic laws."

"Has The Indian Spoor Been Found?," an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (03/06)

"The evidence is still not conclusive and one has to keep the mind
open on who might end up being the culprit.... There is an unending
stream of reported evidence that the Jihadi organizations of Punjab
are all aligned with Al Qaeda and have been involved in acts of
terrorism planned by it. Yet, all TV discussions avoid naming them,
preferring to focus on 'foreign hands' that are never finally
revealed."

"Terrorism On The March," an op-ed by Najmuddin A. Shaikh in the
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (03/06)

"We can speculate all we want about foreign involvement and learned
commentators can point to the fact that the Indians had warned the
Sri Lankans against undertaking the sort of tour that the Indians
themselves had cancelled, and that the Indians are seeking to
retaliate for the Mumbai attack. Statements that verge on gloating
have come from New Delhi and helped foster this sort of thinking.
But if we want to face reality, we must accept that this was a
homegrown attack. If it had foreign financing and perhaps some
foreign planning, the finger should point not only towards our
eastern border but also to the north of our own country. It is
there that those who found shelter now find themselves under
pressure, which can best be relieved if their sympathizers in Punjab
- and there are plenty of those - can be motivated to create chaos
and anarchy in the capital of the country's largest province."

"Terror War Comes To Lahore," an op-ed by Shafqat Mahmood in the
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/06)

"This is a time to keep the pressure on and show that acts of terror
will not deter us from trying criminals who use our territory to
wage war outside. We should also stop legitimizing them by placing
their acts in a context of anti-Americanism. This is what some
people are doing when analyzing events in FATA and Swat. The
assumption is that if somehow the Americans would disappear from
Afghanistan, all would be well. This is balderdash. American
presence in Afghanistan has indeed created a sanctuary for some
Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda in the tribal areas but extremist
elements in other parts of the country have an agenda of their
own."

"Whose Service is This?," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir. 33,000)
(03/06)
"In a briefing to Pakistani journalists NATO commanders in Brussels
have refused to give a timeframe for withdrawal of troops from
Afghanistan. It shows that the U.S. and its allies have a long-term
plan to stay in the region. Why cannot these designs be understood
by the Pakistani political elite, who continue to quarrel with one
another?"
GFeierstein