DINA for the issue of December 10, 2011

----------------------------------------------------------------
D A W N I n t e r n e t N e w s A l e r t
----------------------------------------------------------------
December 10, 2011 Saturday Muharram 14, 1433
----------------------------------------------------------------
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:

e-mail webmaster@dawn.com
WWW http://dawn.com
fax +92(21) 35693995
snail-mail DAWN Media Group,
Haroon House, Karachi 74200, Pakistan

(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.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Zardari calls Gilani, says he's all right
-----------------------------------------------------------------
By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: President Asif Ali Zardari ended his silence on Friday to squash rumours about his ill health, incapacity and resignation.

Not only did he call the prime minister and speak to him while the latter was in a meeting with coalition partners, he also called journalists to give the news of his well-being and prove that he was not incapacitated...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/zardari-calls-gilani-says-hes-all-right.html


----------------------------------------------------------------
Haqqani's reply seeks dismissal of Sharif's petition
----------------------------------------------------------------
By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Although a formal hearing in the memo case is not due for a week, the filing of a reply by Husain Haqqani, the former ambassador in Washington, with the Supreme Court on Friday indicates that the government is ready for a fight.

The reply, filed through former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir, requested the court to dismiss PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif's petition on the scandal, along with awarding damages to the petitioner for Mr Haqqani's suffering...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/haqqanis-reply-seeks-dismissal-of-sharifs-petition.html


----------------------------------------------------------------
Three Rangers killed in Karachi blast
----------------------------------------------------------------
By S. Hassan Raza
KARACHI, Dec 9: At least three personnel of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, were killed and five others injured when an improvised explosive device exploded near their vehicle on the University Road on Friday morning.

The blast was the third one to take place in the city over the past five days...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/three-rangers-killed-in-karachi-blast.html


----------------------------------------------------------------
PM warns of fierce riposte to attacks
----------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani warned on Friday the US and its Nato allies that a fresh cross-border attack would meet with a "detrimental response".

Mr Gilani made the comments during a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the prime minister's secretariat said in a statement...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/pm-warns-of-fierce-riposte-to-attacks.html


----------------------------------------------------------------
Govt firm on review, US told
----------------------------------------------------------------
By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Despite the overtures by the Americans, the government appears to be holding firm — for the moment. Washington has been told that normalisation of the frayed ties will be possible only after the completion of a review process initiated by the government.

This sense was communicated to Ambassador Cameron Munter when he called on Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to discuss what was officially described by the Foreign Office as "the current status of bilateral relations between Pakistan and the US"...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/govt-firm-on-review-us-told.html


----------------------------------------------------------------
US needs to tackle Pakistan's clout in Afghanistan, says Dempsey
----------------------------------------------------------------
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Dec 9: The US military chief has said there still are sanctuaries for militants in Pakistan and that the country's influence in Afghanistan needs to be tackled.

"In Pakistan, the sanctuary for these militants persists. We have to work hard to end its influence on our Afghan mission," Gen Martin Dempsey said on Friday...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/us-needs-to-tackle-pakistans-clout-in-afghanistan-says-dempsey.html


----------------------------------------------------------------
SC true custodian of people's rights, says chief justice
----------------------------------------------------------------
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry says that "it is incumbent upon the judiciary to respond to cases of violation of fundamental rights and give authoritative opinion on issues in question of law and public importance".

Speaking at a full court reference held on Friday to bid farewell to Justice Mohammad Sair Ali on his retirement, the chief justice reminded those who projected the court's actions "in a negative light" that the Constitution and case laws "fully empower the court to take cognizance in a variety of situations to enforce fundamental rights and do substantive justice"...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/sc-true-custodian-of-peoples-rights-says-chief-justice.html


--------------------------------------------------------------
KESC has failed to improve performance despite heavy subsidy: study
--------------------------------------------------------------
By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: As a cabinet committee is yet to investigate affairs of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), a study has found that the utility's management has failed to make committed investment to improve its electricity system, widely believed to have been marred by large-scale theft and losses.

Among the power companies operating in the country, the KESC enjoys the highest government subsidy...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/kesc-has-failed-to-improve-performance-despite-heavy-subsidy-study.html


--------------------------------------------------------------
US downplays decision on air defence
--------------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON, Dec 9: The Pentagon said on Friday that Pakistan's decision to bolster its air defence system along the Afghan border was an internal matter and no threat to the United States or Nato forces deployed in the area.

"We have seen reports of Pakistan installing new air defence system at the Pak-Afghan border," Pentagon spokesman George Little told a briefing in Washington. "This is Pakistan's internal matter. We don't think it is a threat or will be a problem for us."..

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/us-downplays-decision-on-air-defence.html


--------------------------------------------------------------
Rs30bn projects launched in Larkana, Multan, Senate told
--------------------------------------------------------------
By Iftikhar A. Khan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Fourteen road projects involving around Rs30 billion were launched in Larkana and Multan, the hometown of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, during the past two years, the Senate was informed on Friday.

During the question hour, Communications Minister Arbab Alamgir Khan said that seven projects each in Larkana and Multan were launched in 2009 and 2010 at an estimated cost of Rs16.93 billion and Rs13.3 billion, respectively...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/rs30bn-projects-launched-in-larkana-multan-senate-told.html


--------------------------------------------------------------
Karachi Stocks Up 73.93 Points:
--------------------------------------------------------------
KARACHI, Dec 09: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11466.50, up 73.93 points.
--------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------
Forex Update:
--------------------------------------------------------------
KARACHI, Dec 09: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 89.5 to the US Dollar in the open market.
--------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------
*DINA*DINA*DINA*DINA*DINA*DINA*DINA*DINA*DINA*DINA*DINA*DINA*
--------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this mailing list, please fill the form located at: http://www.dawn.com/alerts
--------------------------------------------------------------