CIA officer’s fake confessions on 9/11 A front page story published in a notable Urdu newspaper on August 29, claimed that a dying CIA agent named Malcom Howard had confessed to blowing up the World Trade Centre on 9/11 through controlled demolition. All planes were remote-controlled and empty. The entire plan was conceived at the Pentagon. According to snopes.com, the article lacked critical details such as when and where the confession occurred. “There was no truth to the story, which originated with Your NewsWire, a fake news site.” The story was first published on July 13, 2017. According to poynter.org, “Your NewsWire is one of the most popular fake news publishers in the world. The website, run by two men in Los Angeles, regularly pumps out hoaxes and conspiracy theories.” Pakistan paid $11.1 million to South Korea for junk locomotives According to a report published on August 29, a non-civilian institution (NLC) acquired bought ten junk steam locomotives from South Korea, before Khawaja Saad Rafique took over as the Railways Minister in 2013. The deal was struck for $11.1 million. The Railway authorities had nothing to do with this deal, but they were still told to bear its burden. Apparently Korean authorities were surprised that Pakistan was willing to buy their condemned smoky locomotives at such a good price. When these locomotives came to Pakistan, it emerged that their gauge was totally different and they could not be run on Pakistani rail tracks. Now Sheikh Rasheed is giving the contract for the construction of rail tracks to the same institution that struck this deal. Transcript of Imran-Pompeo telephone conversation embarrassing According to an English newspaper, the United States has sent the transcript of the telephone conversation between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pakistan, which clearly shows what was discussed. The sources said that the transcript had ‘embarrassed’ the government, which had challenged the contents released by the State Department. The statement issued by the State Department had said: “Secretary Pompeo raised the importance of Pakistan taking decisive action against all terrorists operating in Pakistan and its vital role in promoting the Afghan peace process.” Pakistan rejected the statement as ‘factually incorrect’ and urged the US not to twist the facts. The US sent the transcript to Pakistan to ‘satisfy’ Islamabad that the State department’s release was not ‘incorrect’, the sources said. The US has not sent any comment with the transcript, the sources added. Storm is brewing in the PTI, says Aamir Liaqat Hussain A report on a notable television news channel quoted Aamir Liaqat Hussain telling a private TV channel that a storm is brewing in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A big number of Karachi-based MNAs are being ignored. Fourteen MNAs are thinking of not sitting on the treasury benches. Imran Khan is not consulting anyone. Despite repeated invitations, Imran Khan is not visiting the Mazar-i-Quaid. All the talk about not taking protocol is proving false. It was said that no meetings would be held at the Governor’s House. All the meetings are being held there. I went to Mr Asif Ali Zardari in the National Assembly at the behest of Imran Khan. Faisal Javed, a PTI senator, said that Aamir Liaqat Hussain should know his place and stop criticising the party. “If instead of him, Imran Khan had given the party ticket to a lamppost, it would have won.” Faisal Javed, a PTI senator, said that Aamir Liaqat Hussain should know his place and stop criticising the party. “If instead of him, Imran Khan had given the party ticket to a lamppost, it would have won” ‘Pakistani military is for better relations with India’ In his column, Salman Abid disagreed with those Pakistanis who argue that the establishment is a big impediment to better relations with India. The Pakistani military fully realises that the country needs better relations with India, wrote Mr Abid. Pakistan’s political and military leadership is in favour of comprehensive negotiations, whereas India’s agenda is just limited to the restoration of trade. He argued that now Kashmir is not the only obstacle to better relations. India’s growing control over Afghanistan and Indo-Afghan collusion against Pakistan has also become a big problem. The columnist did not mention the reason for the suspension of India-Pakistan talks. He also failed to mention that India gave the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996, and Pakistan has not yet reciprocated this gesture. Hate speech against Ahmadis In its August 31 issue, Dunya, Islamabad, quoted Maulana Qazi Mahmoodul Hassan, the chief of JUI Jammu and Kashmir, Prof. Muhammad Amin, senior vice-president, Qari Muhammad Amin, vice-president, Maulana Abdul Malik Siddiqi, secretary general, Mufti Muhammad Akhtar, Information secretary, as saying that “Qadianis are open enemies of Islam, Pakistan and the Kashmir freedom movement.” Here the question arises: If this allegation is true, why did the founder of Pakistan appoint Sir Zafarullah Khan, a devout Ahmadi, the Foreign Minister in 1947? Nawaz Sharif’s wife does not know about his incarceration In a column published on September 1, Rauf Tahir gave an account of his meeting with Mian Nawaz Sharif in Adiala jail. This short meeting took place on August 30. The journalist Ataur Rehman said to Mian Nawaz Sharif: “You are writing a new history.” Mian Sahib replied in a light vein: “It seems to us that history is writing us.” Ataur Rehman had taken his line from Nehru’s letter to his daughter. All such letters by Nehru have been published in a book form. Maryam knew the name of the book, Glimpses of History. Mian Sahib disclosed that like other inmates he can call his loved ones for 20 minutes every week. His wife, Kulsoom, has not been told about his or Maryam’s incarceration. Mr Tahir also disclosed that in 1999, General Musharraf kept Mian Sahib in solitary confinement for 40 days. Shakil Chaudhary studied international relations in Islamabad and media in London. He has worked for several English-language newspapers. He has written a book, Handbook of Functional English, for the benefit of those who wish to improve their English skills Published in Daily Times, September 3rd 2018.