DINA for the issue of 25, December 2011

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D A W N I n t e r n e t N e w s A l e r t
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December 25, 2011 Sunday Muharram 29, 1433
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the Daily
DAWN.

We encourage comments & suggestions. We can be reached at:

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(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2011

The link at the end of each extract can be used to access the
complete story on DAWN - the Internet Edition.


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Quaid's birthday message: Zardari talks of change through ballot, not bullet
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By Kalbe Ali
ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: President Asif Ali Zardari has called upon the nation to make a pledge that it will not allow any change through "force and intimidation and respect the power of ballot as an instrument of change".

In a message on the 135th birth anniversary of the Quaid-i-Azam, the president said: "The Quaid believed that any change must be brought about by ballot and rejected change by bullet."...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/quaids-birthday-message-zardari-talks-of-change-through-ballot-not-bullet.html


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Javed Hashmi joins Imran's party
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By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, Dec 24: Pakistan Muslim League-N's senior leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi joined the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf on Saturday.

Mr Hashmi made the decision public at a press conference, where he was flanked by PTI chairman Imran Khan and vice chairman Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/javed-hashmi-joins-imrans-party.html


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Gilani welcomes Kayani's remarks
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By A Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday welcomed a statement by Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that military had no plans to take over and expressed the hope that it would help improve the situation.

"Clarification by the army chief is extremely well taken in democratic circles, and it will certainly improve the situation," Mr Gilani said while talking to reporters after a function held in connection with Christmas celebrations....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/gilani-welcomes-kayanis-remarks.html


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PML-N vows to resist 'govt move' against COAS, ISI chief
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By Amir Wasim
ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: The Pakistan Muslim League-N warned the government on Saturday against any move to sack the military and intelligence leadership, saying such an action would be "resisted strongly".

The warning came from Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, on a day the media reported that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was expected to take some important decisions soon in the wake of the memo controversy....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/pml-n-vows-to-resist-govt-move-against-coas-isi-chie.html


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Minister hints at month-long closure of CNG stations
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By Shamim-ur-Rahman
KARACHI, Dec 24: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain has said the government is considering a proposal to shut down CNG stations in Sindh for one month.

Talking to journalists after a function organised by Dr Sir Ziauddin Ahmad Memorial Society here on Saturday, he said the final decision in this regard was yet to be taken....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/minister-hints-at-month-long-closure-of-cng-stations.html


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4 security men die in Bannu attack
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By Abdul Salam Baitab
BANNU, Dec 24: Four security personnel were killed and 18 others injured when a suicide bomber rammed a car filled with explosives into a paramilitary camp here on Saturday.

This was the second major terrorist attack in two days in the restive region....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/4-security-men-die-in-bannu-attack.html

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Announcement
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THE offices of Dawn will remain closed on Sunday (Dec 25) on account of the Quaid's birth anniversary and Christmas.

Arrangements have, however, been made to bring out the newspaper on Monday....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/announcement-5.html


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Musharraf-era pacts with US placed before PCNS
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: The Musharraf government had signed at least nine pacts, some of them secret, with the United States in 2002 to give shape to Islamabad's role in the "war on terror" after the attacks of Sept 11.

The information came to light on Friday when the ministry of defence placed copies of nine pacts before the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS), which is deliberating on review of ties with Washington following last month's Nato attacks on Pakistani positions in Mohmand Agency....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/musharraf-era-pacts-with-us-placed-before-pcns.html


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US for closer ties with Pakistan govt, army
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Dec 24: The United States has said that while it supports the democratic process in Pakistan, it desires a "closer, more productive relationship" with both civilian and military authorities.

At a briefing at the State Department, spokesman Mark Toner refused to get involved in the current civilian-military dispute over the so-called memo scandal. Instead, he emphasised the significance of US-Pakistan relations, saying that this partnership was too important to be allowed to fail....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/us-for-closer-ties-with-pakistan-govt-army.html


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Power shortfall surges to 40pc
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LAHORE, Dec 24: Electricity shortfall in the country surged on Saturday to over 40 per cent for common consumers, hitting a new winter peak and forcing 10 hours of loadshedding in cities and much more in rural areas.

Pepco officials refused to share any data on power generation and its demand and shortfall, saying "they don't know the exact situation".....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/power-shortfall-surges-to-40pc.html


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Slow disposal of cases by ATCs displeases CJ
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By Tahir Siddiqui
KARACHI, Dec 24: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction over the slow disposal of cases in anti-terrorism courts, delay in submission of charge sheets and frequent adjournments being sought and granted to prosecuting and defence counsel in trial courts.

According to a press release, the chief justice was presiding over a high-level meeting to monitor the performance of ATCs and the role of investigation and prosecution agencies at the Karachi Registry of the apex court.....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/slow-disposal-of-cases-by-atcs-displeases-cj.html


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Ruling party official shot dead in Srinagar
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SRINAGAR, Dec 24: Suspected militants on Saturday shot dead an official of the ruling party in Indian-held Kashmir, police said.

Bashir Ahmed was killed in Srinagar, they said.....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/25/ruling-party-official-shot-dead-in-srinagar.html


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