DINA for the issue of January 14, 2012

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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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January 14, 2012 Saturday Safar 19, 1433
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
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(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2012

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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Act-within-limits resolution tabled
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By Raja Asghar
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: In the face of multi-pronged challenges, the ruling coalition moved a strong resolution in the National Assembly on Friday asking state institutions to strictly act within constitutional "limits" while voicing "full confidence and trust" in the country's political leadership, but put off a vote until on Monday in search of endorsement from a hesitant opposition.

The resolution, which also calls for adherence to "the basic constitutional principle of trichotomy of powers" — in which parliament is regarded sovereign and above the executive and judiciary — came amid a hot guessing game gripping Pakistan for several days and government worries about the Supreme Court's handling of some cases that seem to seek undermining government leadership and perceived differences with military leadership...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/act-within-limits-resolution-tabled.html


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The worst seems to be over
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: After days of heightened civil-military tensions, conciliation was in the air in the federal capital on Friday evening as vibes from both sides suggested that they were prepared to get past the incident.

"No one is seeking confrontation. It is important to lower temperatures and every one realises that," a senior politician aware of back-channel discussions between the civilian leaders and the military commanders told Dawn late Friday night suggesting a thaw was in the offing...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/the-worst-seems-to-be-over.html


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Opposition alliance in the offing
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By Iftikhar A. Khan
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Leaders of opposition in parliament agreed on Friday to work jointly to mount pressure on the PPP-led government to hold early general election because it has failed on all fronts and lost moral ground to be in power.

During a meeting with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, the leaders discussed various proposals to force the government to accept their demand for early polls...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/no-trust-motion-ruled-out-opposition-alliance-in-the-offing.html


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New terms likely for Nato supplies
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Parliamentary Committee on National Security has paved the way for the government to reopen the Nato supply route after getting assurances from the US that there will be no repeat of the 26/11 attacks on Pakistani border posts by coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The government may introduce new conditions, including a tax on the Nato cargo transported through Pakistan, before announcing the resumption of the route suspended after the November attacks in Mohamand post in which 24 troops lost their lives...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/new-terms-likely-for-nato-supplies.html


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Two former officials held by NAB
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday arrested former secretary Establishment Division Ismael Qureshi and former additional director general Ahmad Riaz Sheikh, informed sources told Dawn.

Mr Qureshi was secretary when Adnan A. Khwaja, a matriculate, was appointed chairman Oil and Gad Development Company reportedly on the verbal orders of the prime minister. Mr Sheikh was detained for being a beneficiary of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) that has been declared null and void by the Supreme Court.An SC bench had recently directed NAB to probe the appointment of a matriculate as OGDCL chief and re-open the cases closed under the now defunct NRO...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/two-former-officials-held-by-nab.html


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Briefing on economy fails to win politicians' attention
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: It may not be an indicator of political strength or weakness but surely a sign of lack of focus on an economy whose weaknesses are troubling most people irrespective of their political affiliations.

Amid high political drama surrounding the 'memogate' scandal and the National Reconciliation Ordinance, an event arranged by the government for an all-party briefing on the state of economy and the challenges it faces attracted only seven parliamentarians, all of them from the ruling Pakistan People's Party...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/briefing-on-economy-fails-to-win-politicians-attention.html


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Haqqani not alone in authoring memo: Ijaz
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By Masood Haider
NEW YORK, Jan 13: Mansoor Ijaz, the main character in the memo case, is reported to have told his US go-between Gen Jim Jones in a private email that there were three people who "prepared" the now-infamous document, not just former Pakistani ambassador Husain Haqqani, according to a report published in Foreign Policy magazine on Friday.

The report contradicts his previous assertion that Haqqani alone authored the memo...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/haqqani-not-alone-in-authoring-memo-ijaz.html


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Sacked secretary consults lawyers
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By Khawar Ghumman
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Former defence secretary Lt-Gen (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi has decided to challenge his dismissal in court.

Talking to Dawn on Friday, Mr Lodhi said he was consulting lawyers to file a petition possibly in a high court against his removal by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/sacked-secretary-consults-lawyers.html


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Three security personnel, seven assailants killed
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By Ali Hazrat Bacha
PESHAWAR, Jan 13: At least three security personnel and seven assailants were killed in an attack on a checkpost in Sarband, near Peshawar, late on Thursday night.

Thirteen police and Frontier Constabulary personnel were injured...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/three-security-personnel-seven-assailants-killed.html


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PPP lawyers discussing Swiss letter issue
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By Zulqernain Tahir
LAHORE, Jan 13: The PPP leadership has finally started discussing a Supreme Court order which requires the government to write a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

In its last meeting held earlier this month, the PPP core committee had reiterated its stand that President Zardari enjoyed immunity under the Constitution and, therefore, the government should not write the letter. But after the six options given by the apex court to the government to implement its verdict in the NRO case, some allies reportedly advised the PPP leaders to give a second thought to the matter...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/ppp-lawyers-discussing-swiss-letter-issue.html


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Report about PM's call to UK envoy denied
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ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's office denied a report on Friday that he called the British High Commissioner in Islamabad this week, expressing concerns that the army could mount a coup and asking London to support his government.

The prime minister's office simply said Mr Gilani had "not spoken to the British High Commissioner in this regard"...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/report-about-pms-call-to-uk-envoy-denied.html


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US officials, experts rule out coup
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Jan 13: The US State Department has once again made it clear that the Obama administration backs the Zardari government in the conflict between the civil and military establishments and that it is trying to hold direct talks with the Taliban without involving Islamabad.

A day after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made these points in a news briefing at her office, the department's spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters that the US would continue to support the current democratic set-up in Pakistan...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/us-officials-experts-rule-out-coup.html


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SC puts off hearing against Awan
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Supreme Court accepted on Friday a request of former law minister Dr Babar Awan and put off to Feb 2 a hearing against him for his remarks ridiculing the judiciary.

A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed, adjourned the proceedings after Dr Awan sought time...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/sc-puts-off-hearing-against-awan.html


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Application filed seeking action against Ijaz's lawyer
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By Malik Asad and Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Former ambassador Husain Haqqani has submitted an application to the memo investigation commission, accusing the counsel for his accuser Mansoor Ijaz of making false allegations regarding threats to the life of his client.

Mr Haqqani said in the application submitted through his counsel Zahid Hussain Bukhari and Sajid Khan Tanoli on Friday that Mr Ijaz's lawyer Akram Sheikh had claimed before the commission that he was receiving threats on email from him...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/application-filed-seeking-action-against-ijazs-lawyer.html


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Karachi Stocks Up 105.34 Points:
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KARACHI, Jan 13: At the close of trading; the KSE-100 index was at 11014.46, up 105.34 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Jan 13: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 91.5 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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