DINA for the issue of January 20, 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 20, 2012 Friday Safar 25, 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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Gilani sticks to immunity plea for Zardari: PM bows before law, soothes nerves
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: Attired in a dark blue suit, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani drove a white SUV with his counsel Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan by his side on Thursday and told the Supreme Court respectfully that he had no intention of defaming or ridiculing the judiciary. But, he said, he believed that the Constitution provided a blanket protection to President Asif Ali Zardari.

"I have no intention to, God forbid, defame or ridicule the superior judiciary. That is not my intention. We have the highest respect for your decision (NRO verdict), but at the same time, the Constitution is in between," said a confident Prime Minister Gilani who is facing contempt charges for not writing a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases also involving President Zardari...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/gilani-sticks-to-immunity-plea-for-zardari-pm-bows-before-law-soothes-nerves.html


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Pakistanis thrash world No 1 in Dubai Test
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DUBAI, Jan 19: Pakistan handed top-ranked England its first test defeat in 13 months with a blowout 10-wicket victory inside three days on Thursday.

Pakistan stubbornly extended its first innings in the morning to 338 for a lead of 146, then before lunch began dismantling England in its second innings for 160 in 58 overs...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/pakistanis-thrash-world-no-1-in-dubai-test.html


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Norwegian security chief quits over spy disclosure
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: Pakistan and Norway scrambled on Thursday to contain the fallout of disclosure about presence of Norwegian intelligence operatives in Pakistan.
"We have excellent relations with Norway and an ongoing cooperation in counter-terrorism. There is nothing extraordinary about the revelation," Abdul Basit, who heads the Europe desk at the Foreign Office, told Dawn shortly after meeting Norwegian Ambassador Cecilie Landsverk.

Norwegian security chief Janne Kristiansen had earlier made a startling disclosure in her country's parliament (Stortinget) that agents affiliated with the 'E wing' of Norway's military intelligence were present in Pakistan...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/norwegian-security-chief-quits-over-spy-disclosure.html


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Women's commission bill passed by NA
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By Raja Asghar
ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: In a most significant pro-women move in nearly four years of its life, the National Assembly unanimously passed on Thursday a government bill to create a powerful National Commission on the Status of Women as the fruit of years of efforts of a women's caucus, overcoming some last-minute hitches that held it up for a day.

The vote came after the adoption of 22 consensus amendments agreed between the treasury and opposition benches following overnight consultations, just before the house was prorogued after an eight-day session...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/womens-commission-bill-passed-by-na.html


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Bangladesh coup plot foiled: army
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DHAKA, Jan 19: The Bangladesh army said on Thursday that it had foiled a plot by more than a dozen "religiously fanatic" officers to overthrow the elected government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"We have unearthed a heinous conspiracy to overthrow the democratic government through the army," army spokesman Brigadier General Masud Razzaq said in a statement...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/bangladesh-coup-plot-foiled-army.html


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Obama wants US, Pakistan to work together
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Jan 19: US President Barack Obama wants the United States
and Pakistan to continue to work together for achieving their common goals of defeating terrorism and building a stable and peaceful Pakistan, says the White House.

A brief statement, issued by the White House on Thursday, said Mr Obama conveyed this message to Pakistan's new Ambassador Sherry Rehman who presented her credentials to the US president on Wednesday...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/obama-wants-us-pakistan-to-work-together.html


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Joint session next week on fresh ties with US
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: A joint session of parliament is likely to be convened next week for ratifying recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) relating to a review of ties with the United States in the aftermath of Nato border attacks that killed 24 Pakistani troops.

Parliament's nod would set the ball rolling for resumption of ties with Washington that have been frozen since the federal cabinet, on the recommendation of its defence committee, directed the PCNS to re-evaluate the intricate relationship and suggest parameters for sustainable ties...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/joint-session-next-week-on-fresh-ties-with-us.html


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SC wants by-polls held on new voter lists
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: The Supreme Court ordered the Election Commission on Thursday to postpone the Feb 20 by-elections for five National Assembly and one provincial assembly seats –— four in Punjab and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — until new and verified voter lists are complete.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had taken up a constitutional petition moved by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan against the alleged faulty electoral lists...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/sc-wants-by-polls-held-on-new-voter-lists.html


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US should not push Pakistan to go after militants: Khar
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ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: Pakistan's ties with the United States remain on hold following a Nato cross-border air attack, its foreign minister said on Thursday, and Washington should not push Islamabad to go after militant groups or bring them to the Afghan peace process.

"Now that the re-evaluation process is under way as we speak, so till the time that that re-evaluation process is not complete, we cannot start the re-engagement," Hina Rabbani Khar said in an interview on Thursday...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/us-should-not-push-pak-to-go-after-militants-khar.html


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Six injured in Nowshera suicide bomb attack
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By Our Correspondent
NOWSHERA, Jan 19: Six people, among them a police official, were injured when a suspected suicide bomber blew himself up to avoid arrest, sources said.

They said a police team had cordoned off an area and during checking of vehicles asked a suspect — later identified as Azjad alias Jannat Gul, a resident of Ziarat Kaka Sahib area — to get off his vehicle for body search...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/six-injured-in-nowshera-suicide-bomb-attack.html


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Two foreign workers kidnapped
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By Our Staff Correspondent
MULTAN, Jan 19: Two foreign employees of a German NGO working in flood-hit areas of Muzaffargarh were kidnapped from Multan's Qasim Bela area on Thursday, sources said.

The employees of Welt Hunger Hilfe were staying at a house located opposite their regional office in Weston Fort Colony. Four gunmen entered the house after overpowering the guard and took the foreigners away. They have been identified as Mr Burnd, a German national, and Mr Giovanni, who belongs to Italy. Soon after the incident, the local administration along with law-enforcement personnel cordoned off the area...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/two-foreign-workers-kidnapped.html


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'Talks with Taliban faltering'
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ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: Exploratory peace talks between Pakistan and the Taliban have made little progress, a senior Pakistani security official told Reuters on Thursday.

The official said the group had flatly rejected a demand that it work through tribal elders to reach a deal whereby fighters approach authorities and lay down their arms...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/talks-with-taliban-faltering.html


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US costs soar for new Nato routes
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WASHINGTON, Jan 19: The Pentagon says the US is paying six times more than before to send war supplies to troops in Afghanistan through alternate routes since Pakistan's punitive decision in November to close border crossings to Nato convoys.

Pentagon figures provided to the AP show it now costs about $104 million per month to move the supplies through a longer northern route, $87 million more a month than when the cargo moved through Pakistan...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/us-costs-soar-for-new-nato-routes.html


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Grossmandue in India today
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WASHINGTON, Jan 19: A US envoy on a mission to discuss post-war Afghanistan will head on a previously unscheduled trip to New Delhi after Pakistan refused his visit, officials said on Wednesday.

US officials said Pakistan informed them that it did not want to receive special envoy Marc Grossman until Islamabad completes an ongoing review of relations with Washington, which have sunk to rock-bottom in recent months...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/20/grossman-due-in-india-today.html


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Karachi Stocks Down 26.92 Points:
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KARACHI, Jan 19: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11520.80, down 26.92 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Jan 19: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 91 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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