Mediawatch Desi Apr 08: A Q Khan, Ansar Burney, Arbab's manhandling in the Sind Assembly, AIteza's Carrot and Stick Act, Adrees Latif

After the new government has taken steps to alleviate the miseries for the common man - or at least provided interim relief to them - among the other serious issues facing the nations they should ascertain who else was involved with Dr. A Q Khan. (That is where an independent judiciary would become useful.)

If you have ever tried to meet up with a minister or an army general, you would be aware of the steps needed to cross to meet up with them, the numerous security checks, waits, more checks before you get to shake hands.

The access to A Q Khan was even tighter and his every single move was watched by the agencies.

He could not have participated in the alleged nuclear proliferation without the knowledge of army brass. That is why it is imperative to ascertain this - why Dr. Khan became the fall guy - and for whom? - t



ISLAMABAD: Nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan has said he twice saved Pakistan by acknowledging accusations of exporting nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

Talking to a French news agency, Dr. A. Q. Khan said that PML-Q leader Chaudhery Shujaat Hussain and Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed have also acknowledged that he took the blame only for his country. He said new government had not established any contact with him. Dr. Qadeer said he had full faith in Almighty Allah and recital of the Holy Quran gave him peace of mind during his confinement. A. Q. Khan says he took blame twice to save country


Having taken up the cause of saving Indian national Sarabjit Singh from gallows, former Pakistan Minister Ansar Burney will carry home letters from his family and some CDs to ascertain whether or not he was really involved in terrorist acts in that country. Burney, who is in India to meet Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon besides other officials, made it clear to PTI today that he will make all efforts to save Sarabjit if he is innocent. Burney will carry letters of Sarabjit's kin

Although the MQM expressed its displeasure by staging a walkout, unfortunately it took the PPP leadership a long while to realise the ramifications of the incident and Speaker Nisar Khuhro condemned it much later. While the new speaker said he wouldn’t allow such incidents in future, an attempt was made by some in the party to shift the blame elsewhere. But the fact is that it is the responsibility of the party leadership to inculcate decorum and reverence for the sanctity of the house. It must also devise a policy that slams violent behaviour and decrees more civilised forms of protest — armbands, placards, sit-ins, vigils and written statements of disapproval. After all, there is much to be said for the powers of tacit manoeuvres. They achieve far more than the strike of a baton. Dawn Editorial, The Nation, Arbab Rahim, Nation Editorial, The Frontier Post , The News Editorial,

It is a deafening silence that still pervades those high halls on their urgent bread-and-butter problems. For giving such a shabby short shrift to the citizens, this leadership is rapidly losing on its standing with the people. And if it doesn’t clean up its act and put its act together now, it may lose the people’s trust and confidence in not too distant a future. It must understand it has not all the time for the pilgrimages to tombs and mausoleums. It indeed is the time for it to pull up its socks and go cracking on the job the people have it voted for. It is not for a filial love that they had put it in power; it is for the amelioration of their lots that they had done it. This leadership would do well to know this. F-P Editorial

Addressing the media at his Lahore residence before leaving for Okara and Sahiwal, he (Aitezaz Ahsan) said all the sacked judges would also join the long march. He said no “package” or “formula” that did not include the restoration of all the judges, including sacked chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, would be accepted. Therefore, he added, he would not hesitate in staging a long march. Postponed: The SCBA president said that the sacked chief justice’s planned series of addresses to bar associations across the country had been postponed on the request of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and Law Minister Farooq H Naek. Aitezaz's carrot and stick to Zardari,

Anjum Niaz's take on above: What's with Zardari and Aitzaz? Talking heads on TV channels began their day with the reenactment of a dialogue that took place between the two. And then throughout the day, we heard an angry Zardari throwing the gauntlet at Aitzaz saying he can go take his protest to the street as he keeps threatening. We're told Aitzaz was speechless. This bit of news is hard to swallow knowing the sharp tongued Chaudhry from Gujrat who honed his witty repartees from schooldays. Finally, Zardari pummeled Aitzaz on Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry becoming too "political" after his house arrest was lifted recently. But if memory serves me right, didn't Zardari himself receive Chaudhry when he came calling immediately after his release? In the photo-op, both were seen smiling wearing their Sindhi caps in a show of camaraderie! Oh times…

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Reuters won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography on Monday for a picture of a Japanese videographer killed during a demonstration in Myanmar.

Adrees Latif [Pakistan-born and Bangkok-based photojournalist] of Reuters.won for "his dramatic photograph of the Japanese videographer, sprawled on the pavement, fatally wounded during a street demonstration in Myanmar," the Pulitzer Prize board said.