The Day After
After the Abbottabad raid,Pakistans army has sought an inquiry into what it has been condemning as a violation of Pakistani airspace and sovereignty. The News reported on May 9: An initial investigation report has revealed that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) radars installed in Peshawar and Risalpur were functioning properly on May 2 and the movement of some planes was detected near the Jalalabad border at 11 pm before the US helicopters entered Abbottabad… PAF formed a special investigation committee to probe the violation of Pakistans airspace… The committee will investigate how Pakistans radar system,which could detect the flights outside Pakistans limit,could not notice the US helicopters… PAF will also examine whether the planes were meant to divert the attention of Pakistani forces.
Clean Chit
The Daily Times reported on May 10 that Pakistans PM Yousuf Raza Gilani has absolved the ISI of any role in aiding and abetting jihadi elements in the country. Allegations of complicity or incompetence are absurd, said Gilani. Any attack against Pakistans strategic assets whether overt or covert will find a matching response. No one should underestimate the resolve and capability of our nation and armed forces to defend our sacred homeland. The ISI is a national asset and has the full support of the government. He then went on to recount Pakistans contribution to the war on terror: Some 40 key al-Qaeda operatives were captured by the ISI. No other country… and security agency has done so much. Concluding that Pakistan alone cannot be held to account for flawed policies and blunders of others,Gilani raised some questions: Who was responsible for the birth of al-Qaeda… for making the myth of bin Laden? He said Pakistan is not the birthplace of al-Qaeda. We did not invite bin Laden to Pakistan or even to Afghanistan.
Fall Guy?
The News quoted Pakistans ambassador to the US,Hussain Haqqani,telling CNN that some heads may roll after an investigation into the Abbottabad raid. A report in The Daily Beast,which said the ISI chief,Shuja Pasha,would be Pakistans fall guy for the embarrassment,was cited by all Pakistani newspapers. A report in The Express Tribune,however,quashed the notion. It also quoted security officials that Pasha was abroad on a trip to a friendly state to discuss the fallout of the Abbottabad operation. Dawn though said that he was on a visit to the US.
Dawn also reported Gilani announcing a visit to China from May 17: In a speech taking veiled swipes at the US… Gilani hailed China as Pakistans all weather friend. He also called China a source of inspiration.
In Retaliation
Dawn reported on May 13: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed… their first major revenge for Osamas death as more than 80 people were killed and 115 wounded in a suicide attack on FC personnel near Charsadda. This was the first revenge for Osamas martyrdom. Wait for bigger attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said from an undisclosed location.
No Politics,Mr President
Daily Times reported a Lahore high court ruling that suggested President Asif Ali Zardari refrain from party politics: The court hoped President Zardari would abide by the law and would disassociate himself from the partys political office… and that he would cease to use the presidency for political meetings of his party. The court had been holding ex parte proceedings on the petitions moved by Pakistan Lawyers Forum head A. K. Dogar and others for disqualification of President Zardari for also holding the office of the PPP co-chairman. Zardari is currently on a trip to Russia.
