DINA for the Issue of February 23, 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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February 23, 2012 Thursday Rabi-ul-Awwal 30, 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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Haqqani sought US help for COAS removal
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By Malik Asad
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Mansoor Ijaz, the man who set off the memo scandal in October, made a much-awaited testimony on Wednesday before the commission constituted by the Supreme Court.

Testifying through video link from London, Ijaz said he had delivered a secret memo to then US joint chiefs of staff enlisting Washington's help to pre-empt a feared coup against the government in Islamabad on the request of Husain Haqqani, the former ambassador to the United States, who "told me it is from the President (Asif Zardari)...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/ijaz-testifies-through-video-link-haqqani-sought-us-help-for-coas-removal.html


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Afghanistan endgame: Pak vows to support, not lead, peace move
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LONDON, Feb 22: Pakistan will give its full support to any clear effort by the Afghan government to achieve a political settlement with the Taliban but does not want to lead a peace process that would impose a solution, the foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Hina Rabbani Khar said Afghans were tired of attempts by other countries to take charge of their affairs and, for the good of future bilateral ties, Pakistan should not be seen to be interfering too closely. ..

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/afghanistan-endgame-pak-vows-to-support-not-lead-peace-move.html


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Another petrol price hike imminent
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Indicating that an increase of up to Rs3 per litre in petroleum prices was likely this month, the government resisted on Wednesday a demand from parliamentarians belonging to coalition partners and the opposition to consider a price reduction.

The highest functionaries from the ministries of petroleum and finance made an unusual appearance before a special committee of the National Assembly on oil prices and warned that any attempt to reduce prices would push inflation upwards...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/another-petrol-price-hike-imminent.html


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APC a non-starter as Nawaz sets tough terms
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By Our Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Feb 22: The PML-N has made its participation in the proposed all parties conference on the Balochistan crisis conditional to the arrest of Nawab Akbar Bugti's killers and recovery of missing people.

The party has been accusing former ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf of having murdered the Baloch leader...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/apc-a-non-starter-as-nawaz-sets-tough-terms.html


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Baramdagh says nothing less than independence acceptable
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By Saleem Shahid
QUETTA, Feb 22: Baloch Republican Party (BRP) chief Nawabzada Baramdagh Bugti has asked Balochistan Governor Zulfikar Magsi, Chief Minister Aslam Raisani and all Baloch members of the national and provincial assemblies to tender resignation and join the Baloch "movement for independence".

Speaking at his first telephonic press conference from Switzerland here on Wednesday, he rejected the proposed all-parties conference on the Balochistan issue and said Baloch people would not negotiate on anything less than independence of Balochistan...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/baramdagh-says-nothing-less-than-independence-acceptable.html


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Govt committed to productive talks with India, says Gilani
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday that talks were necessary for permanent and concrete relations with India.

Speaking at a reception given in honour of the Indian parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar here at the Prime Minister House, Mr Gilani expressed the hope that ongoing talks with India would prove to be productive...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/govt-committed-to-productive-talks-with-india-says-gilani.html


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SC urged to order general election before Senate polls
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The Supreme Court was requested through a petition on Wednesday to direct the Chief Election Commissioner to hold the general election before Senate elections because this was the only way to get rid of the PPP-led coalition government "which had failed to deliver in all fields".

"The Senate elections scheduled for March 2 should be stayed till electoral rolls are updated within next three months under an interim government of non-political technocrats," said the petition moved by Advocate Tariq Asad who had earlier filed petitions against the award of mining lease to the Tethyan Copper Company in Balochistan and in the memogate and missing people cases...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/sc-urged-to-order-general-election-before-senate-polls.html


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NAB body to review cases of white collar crime
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By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday formed a committee to review pending cases of white collar crimes involving politicians.

The decision to set up the committee was taken at a meeting of the bureau's executive board presided over by NAB chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/nab-body-to-review-cases-of-white-collar-crime.html


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Zardari, Altaf discuss poll strategy
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Dawn Report
ISLAMABAD / KARACHI, Feb 22: President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also co-chairman of the PPP, and MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday agreed to enhance cooperation between the two parties in the Senate polls and the general election and to work together to meet challenges facing the country.

President Zardari talked to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's chief by phone from Dubai...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/zardari-altaf-discuss-poll-strategy.html


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AG puts contempt case evidence before apex court
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq formally displayed before the Supreme Court on Wednesday evidence relating to the contempt of court case initiated against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for not pursuing graft cases in Switzerland also involving President Asif Ali Zardari.

"In support of charges framed against the respondent (prime minister), I tender the certified copies of judgments and orders passed from time to time regarding paragraph 178 of Dr Mubashir Hassan versus Federation (NRO) judgment," said the attorney general who will prosecute the prime minister during the contempt case...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/23/ag-puts-contempt-case-evidence-before-apex-court.html


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Karachi Stocks Up 51.80 Points:
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KARACHI, Feb 22: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12596.25, up 51.80 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Feb 22: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 91.2 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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