DINA for the issue of December 24, 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 24, 2011 Saturday Muharram 28, 1433
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
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DAWN.

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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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COAS affirms faith in democracy, resolves to pursue memo case
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday reaffirmed his commitment to democracy, but made it clear that the military would not back down from 'memogate' standoff with the government.

"Irrespective of all other considerations, there can be no compromise on national security," Gen Kayani said during a visit to forward posts in Mohmand and Kurram agencies...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/24/coas-affirms-faith-in-democracy-resolves-to-pursue-memo-case.html


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No validation of military takeover, says chief justice
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: Without referring to the widespread fear of a military takeover in the country, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Friday reassured all concerned that the days when the judiciary used to validate extra-constitutional acts were gone.

"There is no question of a (military) takeover and, rest assured, good times will come," observed the chief justice, who heads a nine-judge bench hearing the petitions filed by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and others over the memo scandal...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/24/no-validation-of-military-takeover-says-chief-justice.html


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Taliban overrun FC fort in Tank, kidnap 17
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By Ihsan Bittani
TANK, Dec 23: Hundreds of Taliban militants, disguised in FC uniform and armed with sophisticated weapons, overran a Frontier Corps fort in Mullazai area of Tank early on Friday morning, killing a soldier and kidnapping 17 personnel. Six soldiers managed to hide in nearby bushes.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan claimed responsibility, saying a group of 30 militants took part in the attack. The militants also set on fire seven rooms of the fortress...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/24/taliban-overrun-fc-fort-in-tank-kidnap-17.html


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Anxious PML-N, eager PTI await Hashmi's move
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By Amjad Mahmood
LAHORE, Dec 23: Rumours that former acting party chairman Makhdoom Javed Hashmi is considering joining hands with Imran Khan's Tehrik-i-Insaaf sent alarm bells ringing among PML-N ranks as its senior leaders rushed to the house he was staying at on Friday evening to dissuade him from taking such a step.

A PML-N team held talks with the "estranged" colleague at MNA Khwaja Saad Rafiq's house in Defence as Mr Hashmi refused to travel to the Raiwind residence of Nawaz Sharif for meeting the party chief to sort out complaints and grievances...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/24/anxious-pml-n-eager-pti-await-hashmis-move.html


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PPP studies options for defusing tension
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By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: The leadership of the Pakistan People's Party on Friday explored options for scaling back the confrontation with the security establishment, and besides agreeing on a number of steps, decided to take stern action against the defence secretary for allegedly 'not obeying' instructions of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and submitting an affidavit before the Supreme Court in the form of a declaration that his ministry had no "operational control" over the armed forces and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Informed sources told Dawn that the government had decided to serve a show cause notice on Secretary Defence Lt Gen (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, asking him to explain his actions which whipped up rumours and speculation about an imminent clash between the government and the army...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/24/ppp-studies-options-for-defusing-tension.html


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WB okays $5.5bn aid
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Dec 23: The World Bank has agreed to give $5.5 billion in development aid to Pakistan to support poverty reduction and economic growth.

The funding will provide support to critical social services such as education and health and back infrastructure programmes aimed at creating jobs and restoring long-term growth...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/24/wb-okays-55bn-aid.html


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US compensation offer rejected: Pakistan Army did not fire first: ISPR
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RAWALPINDI, Dec 23: The Pakistan Army on Friday rejected key findings from a US investigation into American air strikes last month that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and said the report was unlikely to repair the severely damaged relationship between the two countries.

The investigation — the findings of which were released on Thursday — concluded that mistakes on both sides led to the deadly attack along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has maintained its troops did nothing wrong and the attack was a deliberate act of aggression...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/24/us-compensation-offer-rejected-pak-army-did-not-fire-first-ispr.html


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Contract ready for giving out 20m energy savers to poor
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: The government is set to award a Rs2.8 billion contract to Philips Electrical Industries of Pakistan for procurement of 20 million Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) from China for free distribution among 'poor consumers' as a measure to conserve electricity.

A senior government official told Dawn on Friday that the Asian Development Bank — the lead lender — had cleared the bidding results under which Philips was declared the lowest bidder out of four competitors. The contract is expected to be signed between Philips and the National Transmission and Dispatch Company on behalf of the defunct Pakistan Electric Power Company within the current month, he said...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/24/contract-ready-for-giving-out-20m-energy-savers-to-poor.html


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Muttahida's public meeting in Multan: Altaf supports demand for Seraiki province
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By Shakeel Ahmad
MULTAN, Dec 23: The chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has alleged that the federal government is re-enacting whatever transpired in East Pakistan during its last days. The situation is not much different in the Seraiki belt, where the Punjab government is depriving the people of their rights.

Addressing by telephone a big public meeting at the Divisional Sports Ground here on Friday, he expressed support for the demand for a Seraiki province and announced that members of his party would table resolutions in the Senate and National Assembly for a separate administrative unit for the people of the region...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/24/muttahidas-public-meeting-in-multan-altaf-supports-demand-for-seraiki-province.html


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Karachi Stocks Down 12.16 Points:
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KARACHI, Dec 23: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11293.94, down 12.16 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Dec 23: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 89.8 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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